My son, 3yrs old coughs a lot after drinking milk. Could this be because of milk allergy.?

Question

Not all time he coughs. What will happen if he coughs like this and I continue giving him milk. Will this lead to some other problem apart from the milk allergy.

thanks.

Answer 1

He's most unlikely to cough because of a milk allergy - if he was allergic to the milk he would have stomach and bowel problems too. Please do not try to diagnose your son, take him to the doctor. It's common for people to end up with dietary deficiencies because they have diagnosed themselves with multiple allergies that they simply don't have. Milk is an important part of a three year old's diet - he's far more likely to have problems if you stop giving it to him.

Answer 2

Milk can produce more mucus causing a cough.Look to family history on both sides and keep a log of reactions to food ,even dislikes or cravings.Then take it to the pediatrician next checkup.They will appreciate the log ,and help you to better understand what your child needs.

Answer 3

Milk and other dairy products produce flem.  If your child has a cold, sinus drip or allergies milk will produce more flem and hence the coughing to clear the throat.

Answer 4

It could very well be cow's milk allergy.  As with other food allergens, symptoms may be different from person to person--one person may have stomach upset or pain after drinking milk, another may have a rash, and another, like your son, may have a cough. http://209.85.215.104/search?q=cache:suU...

http://www.innovations-report.com/html/r...

Allergic and intolerant reactions usually involve the immune system.  If  your child is frequently eating or drinking something that challenges his immune system, it makes him less able to fight sickness.  This makes him more prone to infection, and it may just plain tire him out.  

The simplest thing to do would be to stop giving your son dairy products for about three weeks, and see whether he stops coughing.  If he does, you have your answer.  If you still have questions, have your doctor test him for both classical (IgE-mediated) and delayed allergy to cow's milk.

You could give your son calcium/magnesium supplements to increase his calcium intake, if he ends up no longer drinking milk.  You could also give him more leafy green vegetables (high in calcium), or, if he doesn't take to those well, juice them and mix the leafy-green juice with the juice of a sweet fruit.

It's not the end of the world for a 3-year-old not to drink milk.  In many traditional cultures, children may stop breastfeeding around age three, and never drink any animal's milk to replace it.  

Good luck!