Milk Allergy Symptoms

A true milk allergy usually involves skin reactions, like eczema, hives, swelling, but also can involve breathing problems, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or anaphylaxis (a severe, immediate type of allergic reaction). Another adverse reaction to milk is lactose intolerance, where the body lacks the enzyme needed to digest lactose, a sugar found in milk. This can occur at any age and can cause abdominal pain, gas, bloating, nausea or diarrhea.

Testing for a milk allergy begins with a blood or skin test and, if necessary to confirm the diagnosis, is followed by a milk challenge under physician supervision. Testing for lactose intolerance involves drinking a beverage containing lactose and measuring for signs of undigested lactose in the breath or blood or by checking for byproducts of undigested or unabsorbed lactose in the stool.