In the last hours we have known the (Ciudad Real) after consuming a coffee during a religious meeting. After intervening on 112, she was transferred to the ICU of the Mancha Centro Hospital in Alcázar de San Juan, although they could not do anything to save her life.
Although from the Manzanares City Council they point out that the adolescent “was allergic to lactose and in her spare time drinking coffee with some friends the fatality of being contaminated with ” occurred, from the (SEICAP), they point out that lactose allergy “does not exist”.
It is correct to talk about allergy to milk proteinsand is currently the most frequent allergy in children under 1 year of age.
It is defined as an adverse reaction of immunological origin that some people have when they drink milk, and it is very important not to confuse this allergy with the lactose intolerance.
And as he explains to this newspaper the Dr. María del Carmen Diéguez, president of the SEAIC.
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“The patients with intolerance They only present isolated digestive symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, bloating, gas…
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The allergic patientsHowever, they can have the same symptoms, but accompanied by skin reactions such as hives, swollen lips… that usually lead to wheezing or coughing and difficulty breathing.
What is an allergy to cow’s milk proteins?
Allergy to cow’s milk proteins can appear at any age, but the most common thing is that we discover it before the age of one year, although at that age it is not usually particularly serious.
The most serious cases, emphasizes Dr. Diéguez, are those that persist over time.
This means that the like the one at hand, when they continue in childhood or adolescence is when they can trigger a more severe episode, called anaphylactic shock.
This is a very dangerous, life-threatening allergic reaction that usually begins with a persistent cough that progresses to wheezing and then hoarseness.
Of course, it should be noted that for it to occur it is necessary to have had previous contact with this food, because it rarely happens the first time it is consumed. And this also happens with milk.
The formula milk that babies drink as a substitute for breast milk is obtained entirely from cows. And although it has been modified during its processing, it maintains all the cow’s milk proteins that cause allergies. That’s why allergy sufferers can’t drink formula milk either.
In the specific case of milk, the components that cause allergies are proteins, which are divided into two groups:
- Casein, alpha-lactalbumin and beta-lactoglobulinpresent in liquid milk and all its derivatives, so people who are allergic to these proteins cannot drink cow’s milk or any other product that contains these proteins or derivatives.
- Serum albumin or bovine serum albumin, lactoferrinvarious immunoglobulins, which are both in liquid milk and in beef, so that in addition to not being able to consume cow’s milk or derivatives, they cannot eat veal either.
The president of SEAIC remarks that:
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“These patients should also avoid taking goat’s or sheep’s milk, as they have proteins that share characteristics with those of cow’s milk.”
And he explains how the case of the young woman from Castilla-La Mancha may have occurred, who apparently simply limited herself to sharing the same capsule coffee maker:
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“The most serious cases can even be caused by very light contact with the allergen.”
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“It’s what they call traces, which are very small particles of an allergen that can be found accidentally in some foods.”
Hence, according to regulation 1169/2011, all food operators (restaurants, cafeterias, producers…) are obliged to inform consumers of allergens and traces that can be found in dishes and/or products.
Allergy to milk proteins: symptoms
The symptoms, says the doctor, “onset very quickly, around 15-30 minutes, although they can appear up to two hours after ingesting the allergen.”
In addition to the symptoms already mentioned, the following symptoms may occur:
- Respiratory compromise: dyspnea, wheezing or hypoxemia (oxygen saturation below 90.7%).
- drop in blood pressure (less than 90 mmHg in adults or drop of more than 30% in systolic in infants and children) or symptoms associated with organ dysfunction such as syncope or incontinence.
- Symptoms on skin and mucous membranes: pruritus, erythema, edema of the lips, uvula (better known as bell) or tongue.
- Gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain, colic or vomiting.
To quickly identify the symptoms of anaphylactic shock and assess its severity, he lists the following criteria:
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Sudden onset and rapid progression of symptoms.
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Respiratory difficulty, high or low, or circulatory problems.
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Disorientation or restlessness or great discomfort or dizziness.
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Concomitance with signs on the skin or mucous membranes (erythema, pruritus, edema, macules).
Adrenaline: the auto-injector for severe allergic reactions
During an anaphylactic shock, speed prevails. For this reason, the first thing to do is notify the emergency services and, later, administer the autoinjectable adrenaline.
It is a medicine that, as Dr. María del Carmen Díeguez points out, “can save the patient’s life”.
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“We have to insist that adrenaline should always be carried with you and educate family and friends on how to manage it.”
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