Identifying Cow’s Milk Allergy (CMA) in Infants

Information for healthcare professionals about the
Similac specialty formulas.

Information about Abbott's Similac infant formulas.

For parents and carers of infants who have been prescribed or recommended a specialist formula by a healthcare professional.

CMA usually involves multiple systems - key symptoms include:*²

IgE-mediated CMA

Gastrointestinal

•Vomiting
•Abdominal pain
•Diarrhoea
•Colicky abdominal pain/discomfort
•Angio-oedema of the lips, tongue and palate
•Oral pruritus

Skin

•Pruritus
•Erythema
•Acute urticaria
•Acute angio-oedema
•Atopic eczema

Respiratory

•Acute rhinitis
•Conjunctivitis

Other

•Anaphylaxis

Non-IgE-mediated CMA

Gastrointestinal

•Vomiting
•Abdominal pain
•Diarrhoea
•Infantile colic/persistent irritability
•Constipation
•Food refusal
•Blood/mucus in stool
•Faltering growth

Skin

•Pruritus
•Erythema/flushing
•Atopic eczema

Both IgE- and non-IgE-mediated CMA can present with mild-to-moderate or severe symptoms.^1,2 Some of the symptoms listed above are very common in otherwise well infants, particularly in those with mild-to-moderate CMA symptoms.^2,4

Because of this, a diagnosis can only be considered if the initial assessment (physical examination and allergy-focused clinical history) strongly suggests CMA.^2,4

Learn more

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Breastfeeding is best for infants and is recommended for as long as possible during infancy. Alimentum and EleCare are infant formulas for special medical purposes and should only be used under the recommendation or guidance of a healthcare professional.

*This is not an exhaustive list of CMA symptoms. Absence of these symptoms does not exclude CMA.

CMA: cow’s milk allergy; IgE: immunoglobulin E.

References

IE-SIMILAC-2100003 February 2021

Identifying cow's milk allergy

Cow’s milk allergy (CMA) is an immune-mediated response to proteins in cow’s milk.¹
CMA symptoms present in up to 7% of all infants and 0.5% of breastfed infants^2,3

CMA usually involves multiple systems - key symptoms include:*²

IgE-mediated CMA

Non-IgE-mediated CMA

This website is intended for Irish
healthcare professionals only

Identifying cow's milk allergy

Cow’s milk allergy (CMA) is an immune-mediated response to proteins in cow’s milk.1CMA symptoms present in up to 7% of all infants and 0.5% of breastfed infants2,3

CMA usually involves multiple systems - key symptoms include:*2

IgE-mediated CMA

Non-IgE-mediated CMA

This website is intended for Irishhealthcare professionals only

Cow’s milk allergy (CMA) is an immune-mediated response to proteins in cow’s milk.¹
CMA symptoms present in up to 7% of all infants and 0.5% of breastfed infants^2,3

CMA usually involves multiple systems - key symptoms include:*²

This website is intended for Irish
healthcare professionals only