Urticaria

Skin Symptoms of Cow'S Milk Protein Allergy.

Urticaria is a common skin condition and has been characterized as intensely pruritic with raised wheals (edema of the superficial skin) typically 1 to 2cm in diameter, but can be larger when they coalesce; they also can appear pale to brightly erythematous.¹

It can occur in any age range and has a lifetime prevalence of approximately 20% in the general population.¹

Urticaria, with or without angioedema, can be classified as acute or chronic. In acute urticaria, although individual wheals resolve within hours, they can recur for up to six weeks, depending on the etiology and can occur on any part of the skin.¹

What Causes
Urticaria in
Infants?

The most common cause of acute urticaria in infants is food allergens, such as milk/dairy protein allergy. Exposure to insect bites, medication, or infection can also result in urticaria.¹ The causes of acute urticaria can often be identified in infants, while in chronic urticaria the specific trigger can only be found in 10–20% of cases.²

Could It Be a
Symptom of
Cow’s Milk
Protein Allergy?

Acute urticaria is one of the many cutaneous symptoms of Cow’s Milk Protein Allergy (CMPA).³ Urticaria has been reported to occur as a symptom of CMPA in almost 30% of infants and usually appears rapidly following the ingestion of cow’s milk/dairy proteins.^4,5

However, when considering the diagnosis of CMPA, it’s important to note that the majority of these infants have at least two symptoms affecting at least two different organ systems.^3,6,7

Therefore, it is important to consider the individual child as well as the magnitude of their symptoms. This can be achieved using an awareness tool such as the Cow’s Milk Related Symptom Score (CoMiSS™) which will help you determine if CMPA might be indicated.^8,9