Clinical practice. Diagnosis and treatment of cow's milk allergy.
BACKGROUND
Cow's milk allergy (CMA) is thought to affect 2-3% of infants. The signs and symptoms are nonspecific and may be difficult to objectify, and as the diagnosis requires cow's milk elimination followed by challenge, often, children are considered cow's milk allergic without proven diagnosis.


METHODS
Because of the consequences, a correct diagnosis of CMA is pivotal. Open challenges tend to overestimate the number of children with CMA. The only reliable way to diagnose CMA is by double-blind, placebo-controlled challenge (DBPCFC).


METHODS
At present, the only proven treatment consists of elimination of cow's milk protein from the child's diet and the introduction of formulas based on extensively hydrolysed whey protein or casein; amino acid-based formula is rarely indicated. The majority of children will regain tolerance to cow's milk within the first 5 years of life.


CONCLUSIONS
Open challenges can be used to reject CMA, but for adequate diagnosis, DBPCFC is mandatory. In most children, CMA can be adequately treated with extensively hydrolysed whey protein or casein formulas.
Kneepkens
C M Frank
CM
Department of Paediatrics, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. cmf.kneepkens@vumc.nl
Meijer
Yolanda
Y
D000818:Animals; D001903:Bottle Feeding; D001942:Breast Feeding; D002417:Cattle; D006801:Humans; D007159:Immunologic Tests / Q000379:methods; D007223:Infant; D016269:Milk Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000178:diet therapy*