Allergy researcher provides scientific background for new parents
Changing diapers. Cleaning and sanitizing bottles. Losing sleep. With all the things thrown at new parents, identifying and handling a child's potential milk allergy can seem daunting.
Fortunately, as Carina Venter, PhD, RD, professor of pediatrics and allergy and clinical immunology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, explains, the number of children with a milk allergy is smaller than most parents expect and that - with exposure - most will outgrow the allergy altogether.
"Generally speaking, we think about 2% to 3% of children under the age of 3 will have a cow's milk allergy," Venter said. "Over the course of between birth and 18 years, that number can be closer to 6%. However, we think about 80% of children outgrow their cow's milk allergy between the ages of 3 and 5."
In the following Q&A, Venter provides background on the types of milk allergies, what a "milk ladder" entails, how exposure to milk helps children with milk allergies and why parents should talk to their doctor before exploring alternative milk options.
