Cow’s milk protein allergy

Abstract

The prevalence of allergic diseases has risen dramatically and the World Health Organisation formally acknowledged that allergy has become the number-one environmental epidemic disease facing children in the developed world. Cow’s milk protein allergy (CMPA) is the leading cause of food allergy in infants and children younger than 3 years. However, the diagnosis and management of CMPA remains difficult, as it can present with a wide spectrum of symptoms and no validated diagnostic test exists. A UK primary care guideline was produced recently following on from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines to aid clinicians in the initial recognition and ongoing management of those with CMPA in primary care. This article aims to give the reader an overview of CMPA and a structured approach to diagnosing and managing CMPA in general practice.