Study to Investigate Cow’s Milk Allergies in NZ

Media release                                                                                                   May 21, 2009

Study to Investigate Severity of Cow’s Milk Allergy in NZ Children

A new pilot study will be launched into Plunket to investigate just how many Kiwi children could be suffering from Cow’s Milk Protein Allergy and its affect on their growth and development.

The research programme known as “The burden of food allergy” will be led by Auckland University Professor Rohan Ameratunga, a specialist in adult and paediatric allergies.

Professor Ameratunga says he consults with at least six new sufferers each week and international studies have shown that among infants with Cow’s Milk Allergy, 92% have two or more symptoms.

“Cow’s Milk Protein Allergy or CMPA is certainly pretty common in New Zealand and I have noticed the numbers are increasing. I hope our study will shed some more light on the prevalence of this condition among Kiwi infants.”

The research study, funded by the Auckland District Health Board, will investigate the number of children suffering cow’s milk protein allergies along with common symptoms and severity.

Cow’s milk is one of the most common causes of food allergy in infants affecting one in 50 children. It is caused when the immune system reacts to the protein in milk, says Professor Ameratunga.

Reactions can vary and may include; swelling of the lips, face or eyes, hives, welts, tingling in the mouth, wheezing or eczema.

“Other gastrointestinal symptoms can include reflux, vomiting, diarrhoea, and poor weight gain. In extreme cases patients can experience anaphylaxis which severely affects the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, he says.

“At least 10% of the Cow’s Milk Allergy patients I see would suffer from anaphylaxis,” says Professor Ameratunga.

Registered Dietitian Tara Chaplow, whose son also suffers from multiple food allergies welcomes the new study.

She is concerned at the number of Cow’s Milk Allergy cases which may be going undetected and the affect the allergy may be having on infants’ ability to thrive.

“Often the first sign of a Cow’s Milk Allergy will present when an infant is weaned from breast milk to solid foods and formula. Their inability to process dairy products derived from milk or any other foods containing milk affects their protein, fat and micronutrient intake and impacts their growth,” says Chaplow.

Chaplow says this growth should be carefully monitored and cow’s milk substituted with other foods or suitable formula to ensure children are meeting the dietary requirements for their age group.

Parents concerned about cow’s milk allergies should consult their GP or Paediatrician.  Additional information can be found on Allergy New Zealand’s website www.allergy.org.nz or www.actagainstallergy.co.nz

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