How long can milk allergy symptoms last?

[Ydnic]

I was wondering how long that any dairy products can stay in a LO's system?  My DS has a milk allergy, and hasn't had any milk products for 7 days, BUT has thrown once a day for the past 3 out of 4 days.  (We thought he had a flu bug since he couldn't keep anything down, but it turned out to be a milk allergy.)  Can it stay in his system that long, or is it more likely something else?

Sigh.

He's 10.5 months old if that is relevant.

Cindy

[Lucysmom]

Cindy -
Hey there!  Have you also eliminated any foods that have traces of dairy in them?  I know we talked about getting rid of the major obvious offenders but perhaps he can't tolerate even small amounts of milk in crackers/breads/cookies?  Just a thought.  Sorry to hear he's still not doing great. 

[First Time Mom]

When my dd was 6 weeks old she was diagnosed with a milk protein allergy and I had to eliminate all milk products (even trace). She had blood in her stool, the odd time I ate something made with milk (by accident, in a restaurant) the blood would return (along with loose stool), it would take about a month for her system to get back to normal. She never threw up or had other symptoms, I would think that the length of time would vary depending on how severe the allergy is and what their symptoms are. I would also think the actual dairy wouldn't stay long in their system but (if it's the protein allergy) it takes time for their irritated intestines to heal. In your ds's case, if he's still throwing up, I would look at it possibly being something else making him sick or the possibility that you are unknowingly taking milk in something you're eating.

[Mom to M&M]

Agree with PPs - have you eliminated even trace amounts of dairy? Did they test for any other allergens? Could the soy formula also be an offender?

[Ydnic]

Ok, the only things I could think of with trace amounts of dairy were wheat toast and crackers.  He has dry toast every day for breakfast and crackers maybe every other day.  Neither of these have dairy, but they both have soy and wheat ingredients.  Also, since he's on soy formula, I assumed it would be alright if he had tofu, so he's been having that for the last few days.

He's been eating toast for breakfast for quite a while.  So, I'm not convinced that is the culprit.  I'll cut out the tofu and see what happens.

Sometimes I can be pretty thickheaded when it comes to figuring this stuff out.  Can you believe that I just realized as I've been typing, that he's been vomiting for the last few days and he's started to have tofu in the last few days?  AARRGGHH!

[Mom to M&M]

I'd definitely suspect soy intolerance too...

[Lucysmom]

But he's been on soy formula all along so I don't understand why the tofu would hurt him.  So confusing.

[Mom to M&M]

But he's also been chronically constipated - a possible sign of soy intolerance so perhaps the tofu on top of soy formula is just too much for him to digest?

[Ydnic]

I skipped the tofu today, so we'll see if that makes a difference.  He seems to vomit in the evening, right around dinnertime.  We'll see what the evening holds.

I have a nephew that had a milk allergy, and eventually grew allergic to soy, so it may be a family thing.  That is the only family history of it though.

[em_here]

Hi there, just for your info, but when my DD was diagnosed with a milk allergy they told me it could take 14 days for symptoms to clear completely.  She had had the chronic runs and screaming in agony all day long and when the peds put her on the Neocate milk, she slowly got better over 10-14 days, one day after the next there was less crying and the poo firming up etc.....

I likened it to a tap being slowly turned off day after day until there was not even a drip coming out!!!!

Hope this helps 

[Lucysmom]

Oh wow I didn't recall the chronic constipation thing.  Hope he is doing better tonight.

[Ydnic]

He's in bed and there was no vomiting!!

It had to be the tofu.

[Mom to M&M]

Glad to hear it!