Camel milk is a safer choice than goat milk for feeding children with cow milk allergy.

Mohammad Ehlayel,Abdulbari Bener,Fatima Al-Mesaifri,Khalid Abu Hazeima

doi:10.5402/2011/391641

Mohammad Ehlayel, Abdulbari Bener

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.5402/2011/391641

Copy DOI

Abstract

Background. Various sources of mammalian milk have been tried in CMA. Objectives. To determine whether camel milk is safer than goat milk in CMA. Methods. Prospective study conducted at Hamad Medical Corporation between April 2007 and April 2010, on children with CMA. Each child had medical examination, CBC, total IgE, cow milk-specific IgE and SPT. CMA children were tested against fresh camel and goat milks. Results. Of 38 children (median age 21.5 months), 21 (55.3%) presented with urticaria, 17 (39.5%) atopic dermatitis, 10 (26.3%) anaphylaxis. WBC was 10, 039 ± 4, 735 cells/μL, eosinophil 1, 143 ± 2, 213 cells/μL, IgE 694 ± 921 IU/mL, cow's milk-specific-IgE 23.5 ± 35.6 KU/L. Only 7 children (18.4%) tested positive to camel milk and 24 (63.2%) to goat milk. 6 (15.8%) were positive to camel, goat, and cow milks. Patients with negative SPT tolerated well camel and goat milks. Conclusions. In CMA, SPT indicates low cross-reactivity between camel milk and cow milk, and camel milk is a safer alternative than goat milk.

Highlights

In infants and young children, Cow milk allergy Skin Prick Tests (SPT) (CMA) is the most common food allergic disease [1]
In Cow milk allergy SPT (CMA), SPT indicates low cross-reactivity between camel milk and cow milk, and camel milk is a safer alternative than goat milk
ISRN Allergy than 14 years, who were referred to the Pediatric AllergyImmunology Clinics at Hamad Medical Corporation with symptoms related to CMA

Summary

Introduction

In infants and young children, CMA is the most common food allergic disease [1]. Total elimination of cow milk protein from child diet and providing a suitable, nutritional, substitute supply for feeding are the only current strategies [2, 3]. Hydrolyzed and soy-based formulas are the most commonly used substitutes of cow milk protein in children with CMA [4, 5]. Their nutritional value is high, their high cost and poor palatability by some children limit the use of extensively hydrolyzed formulas. For these reasons, there has been continuous search for other nonbovine, mammalian milks as a replacement of cow milk. In CMA, SPT indicates low cross-reactivity between camel milk and cow milk, and camel milk is a safer alternative than goat milk

Methods

Results

Conclusion