Gastrointestinal milk allergy in childhood: a rational approach

Nine children with "unequivocal symptoms attributable to cow's milk allergy" were referred for assessment. Detailed gastrointestinal and immunoallergic investigations confirmed this diagnosis in only one case. In three of the children an abnormality of sucrose absorption was detected by disaccharidase assay. The results of this study indicate the need for cow's milk provocation under controlled conditions before the diagnosis of gastrointestinal cow's milk allergy can be made. A protocol for the assessment of children with suspected cow's milk allergy is proposed.