Clinical manifestations of cow milk protein intolerance in infants

Abstract

The disorder of cow milk protein intolerance is characterised by a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations caused by hypersensitivity of type I, II, or IV, and occurs in 2-3% of children, mostly infants. The aim of this study was to present our experiences and observations of clinical signs and symptoms of cow milk protein intolerance in infants aged below 12 months. The investigation was carried out on a sample of 55 infants, aged between 1.5-9 months (X = 4.21 +/- 1.25), who had cow milk protein intolerance. Diagnosis of illness was based on characteristic anamnestic, clinical, and laboratory parameters, as well as on an adequate patient's response to antigen elimination. The clinical presentation of cow milk protein intolerance was dominated by cutaneous problems, found in 40/55 (72.73%) infants, followed by digestive disorders, found in 31 (56.36%), while respiratory tract disorders were observed least frequently (14.55%). None of the patients developed anaphylactic shock. Changes involving only one system were found in 35 (63.64%) patients; of these 20 (36.36%) were cutaneous and 15 (27.27%) digestive. Twenty (36.36%) infants displayed multisystemic changes; of these 12 were cutaneus with digestive, 4 were cutaneus with respiratory, while 4 infants had cutaneous, digestive, and respiratory disorders. Of the 55 infants with cow milk protein intolerance, 26 (47.27%) had urticaria, 22 (40.00%) perioral erythema, 21 (38.18%) diarrhoea (15 haemorrhagic, 6 non-haemorrhagic), 13 (23.64%) vomiting, 12 (21.82%) Quincke's oedema, 12 (21.82%) eczema, 5 (9.09%) obstructive bronchitis, while 3 (5.45%) infants had laryngitis. In 5 (9.09%) patients we found a significant body weight deficit and in 3 (5.45%), sideropenic anaemia, while longitudinal growth retardation was not registered in any of the patients. Our study showed that the disorder of cow milk protein intolerance predominantly involved cutaneous disorders as well as combinations of cutaneous and digestive disorders, while respiratory system disorders proved to be relatively rare.