Development conditions and principles for identification of cow's milk protein hypersensitivity in infants

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Allergology
• Immunology

Background:

• Cow's milk allergy (CMA) is a significant concern in infant health, often presenting with respiratory symptoms.
• Infants with respiratory tract diseases may have undiagnosed cow's milk allergy.
• Understanding risk factors like family history and feeding practices is essential for diagnosing CMA.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of cow's milk allergy in infants hospitalized with pneumonia and/or bronchitis.
• To analyze factors associated with cow's milk intolerance in families.
• To establish diagnostic criteria for hypersensitivity to cow's milk proteins in infants and assess diagnostic tools.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 153 infants with suspected cow's milk allergy presenting with pneumonia/bronchitis.
• Evaluation of family history of cow's milk intolerance.
• Assessment of infant feeding types (breastfeeding vs. formula).
• Development and application of diagnostic principles including gastrointestinal symptoms and recurrent wheezy bronchitis.
• Assessing the diagnostic utility of LMIT (Lymphocyte Microcytotoxicity Test) with cow's milk allergens.

Main Results:

• Cow's milk allergy was confirmed in 96 out of 153 infants (62.7%).
• Confirmed CMA cases represented 20.8% of all hospitalized infants with respiratory diseases.
• Established diagnostic principles incorporated family history, feeding type, gastrointestinal symptoms, and recurrent wheezy bronchitis.

Conclusions:

• Cow's milk allergy is a prevalent condition in infants presenting with respiratory illnesses like pneumonia and bronchitis.
• A comprehensive diagnostic approach, including family history and feeding patterns, is vital for identifying CMA.
• Further assessment of diagnostic tools like LMIT is warranted for accurate CMA diagnosis in infants.