Efficacy of Feeding Team Recommendations for Infants/Children Presenting With Signs of Milk Allergy

Abstract

Caregivers have reported feeding difficulties in approximately 25% to 40% of infants/toddlers that comprise a variety of signs/symptoms, though many of these are transient and resolve without significant medical intervention. Feeding problems, however, have been reported to persist in 3% to 10% of children, resulting in the caregivers seeking professional guidance. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of feeding team recommendations for infants and young children presenting with signs of milk allergies. Retrospective chart reviews were conducted, with associated follow-up phone surveys. Study participants met criteria based on presenting symptoms of possible milk allergy and received recommendations of milk-free diet and/or allergy testing. A total of 85 medical records were reviewed. Of the 85, 53% (45/85) met inclusion criteria for review; however, only 46% (39/85) were available for follow-up. Of the 39 patients available for follow-up, a milk-free diet was recommended for 67% (26/39), and 69% (18/26) of these families followed through with the recommendations. Of those 18 patients who followed the recommendations, 83% (15/18) reported improvement of symptoms. Our data suggest that recommendations resulting from comprehensive feeding team evaluations of infants and children with suspected milk protein allergies can, when followed, result in improvement of patient symptoms.