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Murine Model of Allergen Induced Asthma
Published on: May 14, 2012
Milk-induced wheezing in children with asthma
1Allergy and Immunology Section, Department of Pediatrics, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA, USA.
Allergologia Et Immunopathologia
|November 13, 2012
Summary
Cow's milk allergy can trigger wheezing in children with asthma. Early consideration of milk allergy is important for managing childhood asthma, especially when symptoms persist despite standard treatments.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
- Respiratory Medicine
- Clinical Nutrition
Background:
- Food allergies, particularly cow's milk allergy, are increasingly recognized for their gastrointestinal and cutaneous manifestations.
- The association between food allergies and asthma, especially in children, remains under-investigated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of cow's milk involvement in childhood asthma.
- To assess the diagnostic utility of allergy testing in this context.
Main Methods:
- 32 children with asthma and suspected cow's milk allergy underwent skin prick testing (SPT) and specific IgE (sIgE) testing.
- Allergen testing included whole cow's milk (WCM) and its protein fractions (casein, α-lactalbumin, β-lactoglobulin).
- A single-blind oral milk challenge was performed to confirm diagnosis.
Main Results:
- Cow's milk challenge confirmed allergy in 12 (37.5%) children, with 5 (15.6%) experiencing wheezing.
- Children with wheezing during challenge were younger (median 23.0 months) than those without reactions.
- SPT showed higher reliability than sIgE testing, though both had suboptimal accuracy; testing individual fractions offered no added benefit over WCM testing.
Conclusions:
- Cow's milk is a potential trigger for wheezing in children with asthma.
- SPT and sIgE testing demonstrated limited reliability for diagnosing cow's milk allergy in asthmatic children.
- Clinical suspicion of cow's milk allergy should be considered in children with poorly controlled asthma.
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