Paediatric Guide

Text by Kua Kee Eng

T
he human body is equipped with an immune system that fights against
diseases and chemicals that could be harmful to the body. Nevertheless,
sometimes the defences of our body misinterpret the protein in cow’s milk
as a harmful essence to our body and sets off an allergic reaction. This
condition, also known as Cow’s Milk Protein Allergy (CMPA) often happens amongst
babies during their first few months of life. Poor weight gain,malnourishment, slow
psychomotor development of babies, are some of the significant impacts caused by
CMPA. Hence, it is important for parents to take a closer look on CMPA, such as its risk
factors, signs and symptoms, as well as the treatments and management of CMPA.

Cow’s Milk
Protein Allergy
is the most
common food
allergy in young
children, and
most babies
develop signs
of CMPA within
the first month
of life. What
could be done

Boo
if your baby has
CMPA?

toMoo...
What is C M P A ?
“CMPA is a kind of food allergy where the immune system misidentifies the cow’s milk
protein as potentially harmful substance, and therefore, it triggers the body
allergic reaction, which in turn, manifested at our body’s systems, namely skin,
respiratory and digestive systems,” said Dr. Chin Wai Seong, MD (Hons) UKM, MRCP
(Paed) UK. In short, when your baby’s body gets the wrong impression about the protein
in cow’s milk as something that would harm her body and resists against it, causing
allergic reactions to her body, especially the skin, air passages and digestive system.
Dr. Chin Wai Siong

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 Is your baby prone to C M P A ?
There are a few risk factors that you ought to take note to
determine whether or not your baby is more likely to get
CMPA. The likelihood of allergy in babies with a family
history of allergy is much higher. If both parents do not
have any allergy, their baby’s risk of allergy is between
five and 15 per cent. If one of the baby’s siblings has an
allergy, the baby’s risk of allergy is about 25 to 30 per
cent. With one of the parents having allergy, their baby’s
risk of allergy is 20 to 40 per cent. Needless to say that if
both of the parents have allergies, their baby’s risk of
allergy is evidently higher, that is about 40 to 60 per cent.
If both parents have the same manifestation, their baby’s
risk of allergy would be immense, that is, 50 to 80 per
cent. Other risk factors include a shorter duration of
exclusive breastfeeding, early exposure to cow’s milk, and
immature immune system amongst the immature newborn
babies.

Signs and Symptoms of CMPA

.........................

According to Dr. Chin, a child may experience one

or more of the following allergic symptoms on her
digestive system, skin and (or) respiratory system.

On the digestive system:

• Colic which causes prolonged irritable cry,
especially in the evening
• Vomiting
• Having diarrhoea five to eight hours after feed
C M P A vs Lactose Intolerance
• Blood in stool
Many parents are often confused or mix up CMPA with
• Inflammation in the stomach and small
intestine (gastroenteritis) lactose intolerance. These are two different issues. CMPA
• Inflammation in the colon and rectum is a reaction of the immune system to cow’s milk protein,
(proctocolitis) while lactose intolerance is the inability to break down the
• Constipation milk sugar (lactose) due to insufficient lactase, which is a
non-immunological process. CMPA often occurs in babies
On the skin: below age one, while lactose intolerance is very rare in
The most common symptoms of CMPA seen in babies’ first year of life, as it is more common during late
babies are manifested on their skin. childhood and adulthood. While CMPA affects the skin,
• Rashes air passages and digestive system, lactose intolerance only
• Hives or red itchy bumps affects the digestive system.
• Eczema One key difference between
the two is that CMPA could
On the respiratory system: be life-threatening, but
• Sneezing (allergic rhinitis) lactose intolerance isn’t.
• Chronic cough, wheezing (asthma)
The reaction of the above symptoms could happen
at a different pace, for instance, symptoms could
appear suddenly within 45 minutes of ingestion or
as late as 24 hours after consuming cow’s milk, or
some time in between.

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 Handling Babies with C M P A
Basically, there isn’t any cure to CMPA, but there are preventive
measures that could be taken to avoid further aggravation and
recurrence of the symptoms of CMPA. “Babies with CMPA must
completely avoid consuming cow’s milk, including partially
hydrolysed formula which is a type of cow’s milk with smaller
protein molecules,” claimed Dr. Chin. He continued, “If the
baby is on breastfeeding, the lactating mum needs to eliminate
related dairy products from her diet.” Dr. Chin also recommended
soy-based formula milk in place of cow’s milk for babies with
CMPA. Several studies show that the commonness of soy
protein allergy in the general population is about 0.5 to 1.1
per cent amongst babies. Up to 86 per cent of babies and
young children with CMPA could be effectively managed on
soy-based formula. In short, most babies with CMPA could
tolerate soy-based formula milk very well.
Up to 86 per cent of babies and
Parents often perceive that soy-based milk has lesser nutrients
than cow’s milk — forget this ‘myth’! Today, soy-based young children with CMPA
formula milk is nutritionally complete with appropriate level of could be effectively managed
vitamins and minerals for babies and growing children. For
instance, Isomil® Plus Advance Eye Q™, developed by Abbott, on soy-based formula. In short,
is a lactose free, soy protein-based formula with 100 per cent most babies with CMPA could
soy protein isolates as its only protein source. The soy protein
isolate in Isomil® Plus Advance Eye Q™ is a high quality protein tolerate soy-based formula
that provides the essential amino acids for tissue building. milk very well.
What’s more, Isomil® Plus Advance Eye Q™ also has a unique
oil blend for fat and calcium absorption. It is also naturally rich
with nucleotides, which play the key role in building your child’s
immune system. Isomil® Plus Advance Eye Q™also consists of
nutrients such as the DHA, AA, choline and taurine that are
important for brain and eyes’ function of your child. Besides,
these products are clinically tested and proven safe for
consumption for children aged one to 10.

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