Abstract
ObjectiveTo determine if allergy to cows milk was responsible for symptoms in two children.DesignSingle patient trial.SettingGeneral Practice in New Zealand.ParticipantsTwo children aged about 6 monthsInterventionAlternating bottles of soya-based milk and cow's milk provided by neighbours over their back fence.Main outcome measuresPresence of diarrhea, irritability, rash and wheeze.ResultsAfter 4 cycles of soya-based milk and cows milk one child proved to have a milk allergy and one did not.ConclusionA systematic approach enabled conclusive diagnoses in both children.
Highlights
Parents of young children whose behaviour is not conforming to expected patterns are often concerned about milk allergy
One aged about 6 months presented to their general practitioner with a history of diarrhea, skin rash, irritability and wheeze
This study was conducted more than twenty years ago but came to light when the general practitioner (GP) (HP) was in a research course discussing single patient trials
Summary
Parents of young children whose behaviour is not conforming to expected patterns are often concerned about milk allergy. One aged about 6 months presented to their general practitioner with a history of diarrhea, skin rash, irritability and wheeze. The parents, reinforced by their peer group's opinions, were considering milk allergy as a possible cause of the problems. As symptoms appeared to come and go within 48 hours of consuming cows milk cycles of 4 days it was considered sufficient to use the onset of symptoms to assess the clinical effects Both families' neighbours, who agreed to supply bottles of milk containing either soya-based products or cow's milk based products, received the respective allocation schedules. The family proceeded to remove all cow's milk containing food from the child's diet. Both sets of parents were relieved by the outcome. The family with the child without a milk allergy were relieved that they did not have to continue with the milk avoidance
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