Important Link between Allergies and Reflux

Half of all babies with GE reflux also have an allergy to cow’s milk protein, according to an important article in the November 2002 issue of Pediatrics. Not only do the two often go together, but the reflux is often caused by the milk allergy; the reflux symptoms disappear when cow’s milk protein is eliminated from the baby’s diet (or from the nursing mother’s diet). But too often this cow’s milk allergy goes undiagnosed.

I believe the connection is strong enough that all babies with reflux should be screened for milk allergy by looking for symptoms (such as diarrhea, constipation, runny nose, eczema, or other rashes), by allergy testing, and/or by a trial of a cow’s milk free diet.