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Published on: December 15, 2011
[Case report: allergy to cow's milk protein]
Ana Muñoz Urribarri1, Alex Delgado Godos, Raúl Castillo Durán
1Gastroenterólogo Pediatra, Unidad de Gastropediatría, Servicio de Pediatría Especializada. Hospital Nacional Edgardo Rebagliati Martins. Lima – Perú.
Insights
Cow's milk protein allergy (CMPA) in infants can mimic infections. Prompt diagnosis and switching to an amino acid formula are crucial for recovery from severe CMPA, as shown in two infant cases.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Allergy and Immunology
Background:
- Cow's milk protein allergy (CMPA) is a common concern in infants.
- Casein-based formulas are frequent triggers for CMPA.
- CMPA can present with gastrointestinal symptoms that may be misdiagnosed as infections.
Observation:
- Two infants presented with severe gastrointestinal distress, including diarrhea, vomiting, and failure to thrive, attributed to CMPA.
- Initial treatments, including antibiotics and lactose-free formulas, were ineffective.
- Diagnostic evaluations revealed duodenal atrophy and immunological markers consistent with severe CMPA.
Findings:
- One infant experienced symptom resolution and growth resumption within 48 hours of switching to an amino acid-based formula.
- The second infant showed good tolerance and resolution of edema with a casein hydrolysate formula, with mucosal regeneration observed later.
- Amino acid-based formulas demonstrated rapid efficacy in resolving severe CMPA symptoms and restoring gut health.
Implications:
- Early and accurate diagnosis of CMPA is critical for preventing severe complications and ensuring positive outcomes.
- Amino acid-based formulas are a viable and effective option for managing severe CMPA when hydrolysate formulas are insufficient.
- Distinguishing CMPA from infectious enteritis is essential for appropriate infant nutrition and management.
Goal:
Milk-based formulas can induce cow’s milk protein allergy (CMPA) in infants. This article discusses two cases of severe CMPA in infants exposed to casein-based formulas.
Cases:
Case N°1: A 7 day old boy developed diarrhea with no improvement despite several courses of antibiotic and switching to formula without lactose. At 2 months of age he had a hemoglobin 8.6 mg/dL, IgE = 17.8 IU/ml (normal <1.5 UI/ml) and a CD4/CD8 ratio = 0.16 (normal 1.5 – 2.5). Upper endoscopy biopsies showed duodenal atrophy. He received a casein hydrolysate formula with decreased fecal flow but continued diarrhea. At 3 months of life he was changed to an amino acid formula with cessation of diarrhea in < 48 hours, resumption of normal growth and normalization of duodenal histology. Case N°2: A 10 month old boy had a 6-day history of vomiting, diarrhea and edema. His albumin was 2.35 mg/dL. An upper endoscopy biopsy showed severe duodenal atrophy. He received a casein hydrolysate with good tolerance and resolution of the edema. At 26 months of age, and endoscopic duodenal biopsy showed regeneration of the mucosa.
Conclusion:
The CMPA is a frequent diagnosis in young infants that can be confused with infection. An early diagnosis is key to a positive outcome.
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