PECULIARITIES OF DIAGNOSING ALLERGY TO COW'S MILK PROTEIN IN CHILDREN UNDER ONE YEAR OF AGE

Cow's milk protein allergy is an urgent problem in young children. Early diagnostics and formation of therapeutic tactics are the basic priorities in allergy treatment among young children. Oral provocation tests, which can be performed only in medical establishments, are a golden standard for diagnosing food allergy. Active search continues for optimal scheme of diagnosing cow's milk protein allergy in children in the first year of life. The aim of our research was to create the algorithm of diagnosing cow's milk protein allergy in children younger than one year of age, which will optimize obtaining reliable data on a patient's condition and decrease a load of laboratory examinations on young children using elimination and provocation food test. To complete the set goal, a record of allergological anamnesis, examination, assessment of physical condition and determination of specific IgE to cow's milk proteins were conducted to diagnose cow's milk protein allergy. Then, based on the obtained results, elimination and provocation food test was performed in two phases - elimination phase and provocation phase. Diagnostic in vitro is needed to choose the level of medical establishment for conduction of oral provocation tests: in case a specific IgE index is over 0.7 kU/L, testing is performed in an intensive care unit, if IgE is less than 0.7 kU/L - in a specialized inpatient department. Three clinical cases involving different methods have been presented for diagnosing cow's milk protein allergy - elimination and provocation test, oral provocation test and administration of individual diet based on the obtained results. A complex diagnostic approach, in particular, study of anamnesis, record of nutrition diary, elimination diet, enables to optimize diagnostics of food allergy, and diagnostic addition of a product - to assess tolerance clinically during extension of diet. An elaborated method of diagnosing cow's milk protein allergy in children younger than one year of age can be recommended for wide use in a clinical practice.