Cow's Milk Allergy and your baby

Visiting your child's doctor

How can you find out if your child is allergic to cow's milk?

Diagnosing CMA can mean a bit more than a single test at the doctor's. Your child's symptoms, medical history and overall assessment will be taken into account along with any test results if applicable. It is therefore important that you visit your healthcare professional if you suspect that your child may have CMA to discuss your child's symptoms and rule out any other conditions potentially causing the symptoms.

How is Cow's Milk Allergy diagnosed?

If you suspect that your baby might be showing some symptoms of cow's milk allergy, the first step will be to visit your doctor to discuss your concerns.

Your baby's symptoms, medical history and overall assessment will help guide a diagnosis.

Most people think of food allergy as a very quick reaction causing symptoms such as swelling of the lips and breathing problems. However, some food allergies, such as cow's milk allergy, can either occur quickly or be much more delayed (see section Symptoms of Cow's Milk Allergy).

Preparing for your doctor's appointment

Identifying cow's milk allergy symptoms is the first step in providing relief for your baby. So the more you tell or can show your doctor, the better. Completing these five simple steps may help prepare you for your doctor's visit. Some other useful items include:

• Use a symptom checklist to familiarise yourself with the symptoms of CMA
• Keeping a symptom diary can be very useful
• Prepare questions that you might like to ask your doctor
• Make a note of any information about your family's and child's medical history
• Take photographs or videos of your child's symptoms

Make a note of your questions and points you'd like to share with the doctor

There is a lot to cover at the doctor's appointment so it's a good idea to make a note of any questions you might like to ask your doctor so you don't forget.

Here's a list of common questions to help you get started:

• Could my child's symptoms be caused by food allergy?
• Is it possible to confirm if my child has one or more food allergies?
• Are there any allergy tests?
• Do I need to see a specialist?
• What will be the next steps?

Here's a list of common questions the doctor may ask upon your visit. You might like to write down your answers and take them with you to the visit:

• What are your child's symptoms?
• How old was your child when you first noticed the symptoms?
• How quickly do symptoms develop?
• How often do they happen? Are they the same every time?
• Do the same symptoms happen each time your infant eats a particular food?
• Is there a family history of allergy, especially parents or siblings?
• Do you suspect a specific food is involved - either in your child's diet or your own diet if you are breastfeeding? – If so, how much of the suspected food does your child need to eat for symptoms to appear?

How will the doctor confirm the diagnosis?

Your child's doctor will use all of the information you provide to help decide whether allergy tests are called for.

Allergy testing can involve skin prick tests, blood tests and elimination diets. Your doctor will be able to provide you with more information about this. Allergy tests always need to be performed under medical supervision of a doctor or other qualified medical professional.