I'm hoping this is a straightforward question, but forgive me if I get there in a roundabout way. We found out this week that Titus is very allergic to milk. He's been having rashes, hives, etc. They did a blood and a scratch test. We've been told to avoid all milk and milk by-products for another full year (he's currently 9 months old). I also found out that two of his medications have lactose in them. Our pediatrician said that usually a milk allergy is to the milk protein, not to the lactose sugar, which is what is in the medication. COuld the medications be what he's reacting to? He's currently on nutramigen, so if it's not the medication, it must be the formula (we're planning a soy formula trial over the weekend). I'm also wondering since we've been told to avoid all milk by-products if we need to steer clear of anything with lactose as well (I'm not sure yet whether Titus is lactose intolerant). Our allergist is closed for the weekend, so she's not available to answer this question and my pediatrician wasn't sure. I was interested in another opinion.

Thanks for any help you can offer!

Hi,

Most kids with the description of a milk protein allergy can handle lactose. A lactose intolerance is much more common than a milk protein allergy and the symptoms are those of GI upset, rather than rashes.

I doubt the medicine is causing problems. The nutramigen is a milk based formula where the milk proteins are chemically broken down into smaller pieces that usually are tolerated. Often soy allergy goes along with milk allergy. A trial of soy formula might be considered or if the thought is that the Nutrimigen is the culprit, than a more elemental formulat like Neocate might be considered.

Hope these thoughts are of help to you, Dr. Olson