Cow Milk Allergy Children, Expert Advice: Handling Fast And Proper

Illustration (Cottonbro/Pexels)

JAKARTA - The cow's milk energy (ASS) occurs when the immune system overreacts to proteins in cow's milk that can affect children's growth, development, and health if not treated quickly and appropriately. ASS is the most common food allergy at the beginning of childhood, with an incidence of 2-3 percent in the first year of life.

Data from the Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI) states that the prevalence of ASS in Indonesian children is around 2-7.5 percent with cow's milk protein becoming the second most common allergen after eggs. Therefore, fast and precise handling is very important to do to prevent long-term impacts of ASS and ensure growth and development of children is not disrupted.

The impact of ASS can vary from light to heavy, and can affect various systems in the body. In the short term, ASS can cause discomfort, as well as difficulty eating and sleeping. The long-term impact can include non-optimal weight, malnutrition, and growth delays. In addition, persistent allergic properties can increase the risk of the development of other atopic conditions, such as asthma or eczema, in the future.

"ASS symptoms in children can be different, but some of the most common include rashes on the skin, itching, and even diarrhea. In addition, ASS can also cause serious respiratory problems, such as anaphylaxis. Generally, children with cow's milk allergies can overcome allergies (remission) with age, usually between the ages of three to five years. However, there is a small fraction of children who may still have allergies to adulthood. Fast and precise treatment is essential to prevent more serious adverse effects and ensure children can grow and develop optimally, "said Prof. Dr. Budi Setiabudiawan, SpA(K) as a Child Specialist Consultant for Immunology.

Prof. Budi also emphasized the importance of recognizing these symptoms early on and consulting a doctor to get the right diagnosis and treatment.

Another important step that parents must take is to remove cow's milk from their child's diet, look for alternative nutritional sources that contain macro nutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, as well as the micro nutritional content such as vitamins and minerals needed in the child's growth phase. Subsequent steps include reading food labels carefully, and monitoring children's growth regularly. This handling strategy must be carried out quickly and precisely to reduce the negative impact of ASS, so that children with ASS can live a healthier and more optimally developed life, "added Prof. Budi in a Nutricia talk webinar organized by Primaku. With the theme Hands of Cow Milk Association (ASS) on Children Fast and Right Before Late.