Infant Cow's Milk Protein Allergy Requires Dietary Changes and Medical Supervision
Infants diagnosed with cow's milk protein allergy (CMPA) necessitate significant dietary adjustments to eliminate the allergen while ensuring adequate nutrition. According to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), the diagnostic process for CMPA varies based on whether the reaction is rapid (IgE-mediated) or delayed (non-IgE-mediated). Rapid reactions, characterized by symptoms like hives, swelling, vomiting, or wheezing, may involve skin prick tests or specific IgE blood tests. Delayed reactions, presenting as abdominal pain, reflux, diarrhea, or eczema, often do not benefit from allergy tests; instead, doctors may recommend a 2-6 week elimination diet followed by reintroduction to observe symptom changes. For breastfed infants, mothers are advised to remove cow's milk protein from their diet under careful guidance to maintain their own nutritional intake. Formula-fed infants may be prescribed fully hydrolyzed protein formulas, or in severe cases, amino acid formulas, with the choice depending on... 
