Cow's milk allergy: how to deal with it?

Cow's milk allergy (CMA) is one of the most frequent allergic pathologies in early childhood, affecting up to 7.5 % of infants. Epidemiologically, it has been noted that those children who present with IgE-mediated CMA not only have a higher incidence of inhalant sensitisation, but they also show a general higher incidence of other food allergies, including egg proteins. Physicians are increasingly asked to evaluate patients for possible food allergy. In any case in which a child presents with a suspicion of CMA and with gastrointestinal, respiratory and/or cutaneous symptoms, diagnosis should be considered. Clinicians need to reach an accurate diagnosis, which is essential, in order to reassure parents and also to set an adequate treatment which can actually decrease the risk of allergic reactions