Waspada.co.id – cow’s Milk Allergy (ASS) is one of the most common types of food allergies experienced by babies. The risk of a baby experiencing allergies will be higher if one or both parents also have a history of allergies.
Based on data from the Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI), the prevalence of ASS in Indonesia ranges from 2% to 7.5%. With the number of children under five reaching around 21 million, this means that around 420,000 to 1.575 million Indonesian children have the potential to face cow’s milk allergies.
Pediatric Allergy and Immunology Specialist, Prof. Dr. Budi Setiabudiawan, dr.Sp.A(K), M.Kes explained that cow’s milk allergy is caused by casein and whey, which are the proteins in cow’s milk that cause allergic reactions. this reaction can be lgE or non-lgE mediated.
“Most children who experience cow’s milk allergies can recover with age,” said Prof. budi in the Media Briefing. Kalbe Nutritionals Supports Children with cow’s Milk Allergy to Become a Generation of Champion Children in Jakarta,recently.
Symptoms of cow’s milk allergy can vary from mild to severe and can appear within minutes to hours after consuming cow’s milk or it’s processed products. The following symptoms can arise due to cow’s milk allergy:
- Gastrointestinal symptoms, such as diarrhea and colic
- Skin symptoms, such as urticaria (hives) and atopic dermatitis (eczema)
- Symptoms in the respiratory tract include asthma and rhinitis
- Common symptoms such as anaphylaxis or severe reactions occur suddenly.
“We must detect a child as early as possible if he is suspected of being allergic to cow’s milk protein. “If we detect it as early as possible,we will treat it as quickly as possible so that the child can grow and develop optimally,” continued Prof.Budi.
Prof. Budi further said that children with cow’s milk allergies need nutrition that is appropriate to their condition, such as soya-based formula, which is an alternative nutrition for children with ASS.
“Children with ASS who are compatible with the soy formula can avoid allergic symptoms due to ASS so that children can still have optimal growth and development. “Proper nutrition not only supports maximum growth and development, but also encourages children to be healthier and more successful,” he stressed. (wool/okezone/ryp/d2)