Milk allergy is most common in American children

A recent study shows that American children with cow's milk allergy are very rarely diagnosed. Patients and their families are otherwise ill-prepared to manage and treat the symptoms of the condition. Yet this food allergy is most prevalent in children.

Cow's milk allergy is most common in American children under 5, with 2% of the population affected. And in babies under one year old with food allergies, the figure climbs to 53%, says a recent study presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI).

With time, however, these subjects are less and less concerned. They are 41% to be allergic to milk in 1-2 years, 34% between 3 and 5 years and 15% among young Americans aged 11 to 17 years.

1% of allergic children diagnosed

Although this infant allergy is more widespread than that to nuts, it remains poorly identified. "Only 1% of American children who have a milk allergy are diagnosed by a doctor," says Chrostopher Warren, co-author of the study cited by Slate .

As for people who suffer and those around them, they are insufficiently prepared for symptoms such as difficulty breathing, eczema or tightening of the throat.

Offer better information

Thus, only 26% of children with milk allergies were prescribed an auto-injector of epinephrine used to treat the strongest allergic reactions, shows the study conducted on 52,000 American homes, including 38,000 with children. Faced with this finding, researchers are advocating for better information and awareness.

"A child may have milk intolerance that his parents are confused with milk allergy. It is important that any child suspected of having a milk allergy confirms this allergy with an allergist , says Ruchi Gupta, another co-author. [...] An allergic child should be advised on how to avoid milk, but also on unnecessary dietary restrictions. "