Protein flaw – causes, symptoms, treatment. Protein flaw and diet

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Protein flaw is nothing more than a food allergy to protein. For this reason, it is also sometimes called food blemish. Protein blemish is not dangerous to the health of the child, but babies who have been diagnosed must change their food, and their skin requires special care.

What is protein diathesis?

Protein blemish is a type of allergy. It usually includes cow’s milk proteins (most often caused by the alpha S1 casein protein in cow’s milk) but can occur in babies who are still consuming breast milk. Usually, the first, disturbing symptoms appear around 2-3 months of age. It usually doesn’t occur to parents that it might be a food allergy, but in that case it is up to the mother to eliminate dairy products from her diet. Protein blemish can also target other proteins – for example, proteins found in eggs, fish or meat.

Interestingly, only in some cases the protein diathesis becomes permanent and occurs throughout life in the form of allergies. It usually disappears spontaneously around the age of three.

As protein diathesis is a milk allergy, it is sometimes confused with lactose intolerance as they often share symptoms. However, these two cases are very different. Lactose intolerance occurs when a person lacks an enzyme (lactase) to metabolize lactose – milk sugar – in the gut.

Cow’s milk is the leading cause of allergic reactions in young children and one of eight foods responsible for 90 percent of allergies in children. The other seven are eggs, peanuts, nuts, soybeans, fish, shellfish and wheat.

Protein flaw – causes

As in the course of other allergies, also in the case of protein blemish, the body recognizes specific substances as threatening its safety. In this case, proteins of a specific origin are treated equally with viruses or bacteria. As a defense mechanism, the immune system develops inflammation.

Some children have a greater predisposition to protein flaw, which is dictated by genetics. The offspring of allergy sufferers (and these are any allergies, not just food allergies) are at a much greater risk of developing a protein flaw. However, it is worth bearing in mind that despite the absence of allergies in the family, such an allergy may develop in a child. Usually this is all the more worrying for parents who cannot recognize the symptoms of the allergy.

See also: How does the immune system work?

How common is protein diathesis in babies?

Only 0,5% of exclusively breastfed babies are affected, and symptoms are usually mild to moderate. This is one of the reasons why experts recommend exclusively breastfeeding for the first 4-6 months of a baby’s life.

Infants with a family history of allergies are believed to be at a higher risk of being allergic to cows’ milk protein. The same is true for babies with eczema and asthma. People with asthma can have severe reactions, especially if their lung disease is poorly controlled.

Protein blemish – symptoms

Protein blemish usually causes skin symptoms. It starts with a rash located on the cheeks and behind the ears. The blemishes may be red in color, but sometimes they are just palpable grains. In severe cases, the rash can also appear on other parts of the body – especially the torso and the bends of the elbows and knees.

Milk contains both casein (which forms curd when the milk turns sour) and whey (the watery portion left over from the complete curdling of cow’s milk), each containing several different proteins, each of which can cause an allergic reaction.

Cow’s milk protein allergy can cause different kinds of reaction depending on the substances released, and the allergy is classified based on the following reasons:

1. immunoglobulin E (IgE) mediated reactions: The immune system releases histamine and other chemicals in response to cows’ milk protein. Symptoms usually appear within 20 to 30 minutes of protein consumption, but may appear up to 2 hours later.
2. immunoglobulin E independent reactions: T cells are thought to produce symptoms that develop gradually, from 48 hours to a week after cows’ milk protein consumption.
3. mixed IgE and non-IgE reactions: This is a combination of immunoglobulin E mediated and immunoglobulin E mediated reactions.

Symptoms that appear quickly (within seconds to hours) may include:

1. wheezing;
2. vomiting;
3. hives.

Usually, it is not possible to diagnose a protein defect very early and develops atopic dermatitis. The affected areas then become dry and even more irritated. The rash itches and the baby is scratching. This results in intense peeling of the skin, and sometimes bacterial superinfections appear in the cracks.

In addition to skin symptoms, there may be food discomfort. Children with protein diathesis have a disturbed bowel rhythm – mucous diarrhea or constipation appear, and there may also be blood threads in the stools. There may also be vomiting or painful colic.

Although rare, a child with a protein blemish may have a serious reaction known as anaphylactic shock. Anaphylactic shock can cause swelling in the throat and mouth, drop in blood pressure, and breathing problems. It can also lead to cardiac arrest. Anaphylaxis requires immediate medical attention and is treated with epinephrine injection.

See also: How to recognize an allergic rash? Causes, symptoms and treatment of skin allergies

How is protein blemish diagnosed?

If we suspect that our child may have a protein flaw, let’s schedule an appointment with a pediatrician who will ask about the child’s family history to find out if other family members have food allergies, asthma, eczema or hay fever. The doctor will want to know all about the symptoms and when they first appeared.

Before confirming an allergy diagnosis, other conditions that may cause similar symptoms – such other food allergies, Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, and gastroesophageal reflux disease – may need to be ruled out.

If the doctor suspects an IgE-dependent allergy to cows’ milk proteins, the baby will usually be referred to an allergy specialist for skin prick tests and / or blood IgE antibody testing. If confirmed, it is necessary to strictly avoid cow’s milk protein.

If an IgE-independent cow’s milk allergy is suspected, your doctor may not refer your baby to a specialist unless there are concerns about your baby’s growth or symptoms are acute or severe. Your doctor may recommend that you try an elimination diet, in which cow’s milk protein is removed from the baby’s – or mother’s, if the infant is completely breastfed – for a period of time and then reintroduced. If the child is allergic, his symptoms will disappear during the elimination period and then reappear.

Be wary of complementary or alternative health tests for food allergies. Misdiagnosing a food allergy or intolerance can lead to unnecessary exclusions from the diet. Cutting out a large number of foods can lead to nutrient deficiencies, which could mean that your baby may not be developing properly.

Protein flaw – treatment

Protein blemish usually does not require the administration of drugs, but only the introduction of a restrictive diet and special skin care. If we are dealing with a child taking on the mother’s milk, she will have to follow the diet. For toddlers taking ready-made formulas, change them as soon as possible.

Children who are already consuming food other than milk must be included in the diet. It should be remembered that the elimination diet does not give immediate results – sometimes it is necessary to wait three to four weeks for the symptoms to subside.

In the case of atopic dermatitis, care is used with emollients – special cosmetics that lubricate the skin, leaving a protective layer on it.

Protein flaw and a proper diet

If a protein diathesis is detected in a child who is still breastfed, it will mean that the mother of the child excludes milk and any foods containing milk from the diet. Since goat’s and sheep’s milk proteins are similar to cow’s milk proteins, they may also trigger a reaction and should be ruled out.

A diet without milk protein is not only the exclusion of all types of milk – full-fat, semi-skimmed, skimmed and non-fat – but also buttermilk, condensed milk, condensed milk, milk-based drinks (including some cocktails), powdered milk, butter, margarine, ghee, all kinds of cheeses (including parmesan, mascarpone and cream cheese), yoghurt, homogenized cheese, crème fraîche, cream (including sour cream), ice cream and frozen yoghurt.

In addition to these dairy products, you should also check packaging labels for certain ingredients. Ingredients to look out for include:

1. casein?
2. caseinates;
3. hydrolyzed casein;
4. lactose;
5. lactoglobulin;
6. milk mass;
7. whey;
8. whey syrup sweetener.

Milk can also be added to ready-made meals in both solid and liquid form, sometimes as a flavor additive, such as in cheese and onion chips. The following is a list of some processed foods that may contain milk:

1. pasta;
2. Pizza;
3. ready meals;
4. soups;
5. sausages and other meat preparations;
6. prepared mashed potatoes;
7. sauces;
8. chips, popcorn and similar snacks;
9. Pancakes;
10. rolls and other baked goods;
11. cookies, crackers and cakes;
12. puddings;
13. chocolate and other confectionery.

It is difficult to get enough calcium and vitamin D when you are not consuming dairy products. In this case, talk to your doctor about adding other calcium-rich foods or taking a supplement to your diet.

If your baby is bottle-feeding, your doctor may recommend an appropriate formula:

Extensively hydrolysed mixtures (eHF): About 90% of infants allergic to cows’ milk protein can tolerate extensively hydrolyzed formulas. Although they are based on cow’s milk and so have the same nutrient content as normal infant formulas, they have been largely broken down into tiny pieces so that the baby’s immune system is less likely to recognize the protein.

Amino Acid Formulas (AAF): If your child has problems with the hydrolyzed formula or has severe symptoms – such as severe skin or gastrointestinal symptoms or has had an episode of anaphylaxis – the amino acid formula may be recommended.

Let’s not assume the soy-based formula will be safe. It may also cause a reaction in infants allergic to cow’s milk.

The doctor will also advise you on how to wean your baby on a diet that excludes cow’s milk. Since cow’s milk provides many important nutrients, especially calcium, a baby nutritionist can help ensure that your baby receives enough nutrients for healthy development.

The mother should be given a management plan that covers not only how the baby is fed, but also treatments such as antihistamines or creams in cases where the baby has eczema. Follow-up visits should continue to ensure that your little one thrives.

Because babies can outgrow protein defect, your baby should be re-evaluated as often as your doctor recommends to see if there’s a change in cow’s milk protein tolerance.

See also: Mother’s milk from a pediatrician’s perspective – truths and myths

Protein flaw and allergy to almond milk

Switching from plain milk to almond milk may mean replacing one allergic reaction with another. Nuts such as almonds (along with walnuts, cashews, and pecans) top the list of non-allergenic foods. In addition, almost half of people allergic to peanuts are allergic to tree nuts.

Unlike cow’s milk allergy, which usually resolves at a very young age, tree nut allergies tend to last a lifetime. Only 9 percent of children will outgrow an allergy to almonds and other nuts.

Symptoms of a nut allergy can include:

1. itch;
2. eczema or hives;
3. edema;
4. nausea;
5. abdominal pain;
6. diarrhea;
7. vomiting;
8. train;
9. wheezing;
10. breathing problems.

Anaphylactic reactions to nuts (and peanuts) are also more common than to other types of allergies.

See also: Scientists: Walnuts are the healthiest

Protein flaw and allergy to soy milk

Soybeans are one of the “big eight” allergens, so it’s important to pay attention to symptoms, especially in children. Soybeans, along with peanuts, beans, lentils and peas, belong to the legume family.

Soy allergy is most common in infants.

Symptoms of a soy allergy can include:

1. itch;
2. hives;
3. train;
4. wheezing.

More serious reactions may include stomach pain, diarrhea, and swelling of the lips, tongue or throat. In very rare cases, a soybean allergy may cause anaphylactic shock.

See also: Soybeans help relieve hot flashes during menopause

Protein flaw and allergy to rice milk

Rice is the grain with the lowest likelihood of causing an allergic reaction. Many parents choose to give their children rice instead of cow’s milk because of an allergic concern. Although rice allergies are extremely rare in the West, they have been increasing since the 90s in Asian countries such as Japan and Korea, where rice is a staple food.

Symptoms of a rice allergy include:

1. reddening of the skin;
2. rashes;
3. hives;
4. edema;
5. stuffy or runny nose;
6. wheezing;
7. anaphylactic shock.

See also: What is the rice diet?