CMPA – also known as cow’s milk allergy or CMA – is a type of food allergy most commonly occurs in babies and young children.
It occurs when their immune system responds incorrectly to proteins found in dairy products such as milk, cheese, yoghurt and infant formula. It can cause a range of symptoms. Although an allergy to all dairy protein it is often referred to as CMPA or CMA.
Which foods cause allergies?
There are more than 120 foods known to cause food allergies. But the majority involved in children's allergy come from 9 different food types (BDA Factosheet2021; FARE online 2021) Cow’s milk protein allergy (CMPA) is one of the most common, especially in babies under one year old.
CMPA is caused by the immune system mistaking one or more of the proteins found in milk and dairy cow’s milk to be a harmful substance, which triggers an allergic response.
There are two main types of immune reactions. A baby may have one, or a combination of the two.
It’s easy to confuse cow’s milk protein allergy with lactose intolerance, but they are very different conditions.
Some people have more than one food allergy as their immune system becomes increasingly confused about what is and what is not a threat.
If you’re keen to find out more about CMPA, take a look at our wide range of frequently asked questions and support materials. They are all specially designed to help you and your family on your journey through CMPA.
Here are the most common FAQs asked by parents, but you can read the full list below.
Yes, it’s actually the most common food allergy in the first year of life. 7 out of every 100 babies are diagnosed with CMPA.
No. There is currently no research to indicate that CMPA is caused by genetics.
Babies and children experience CMPA when their immune system mistakes the proteins found in cow’s milk as harmful. This then causes an allergic reaction, creating one or more of CMPA’s symptoms.
CMPA can make life a bit more complicated, both for children who are diagnosed and their parents. But millions of children grow up with CMPA and everyone’s journey is different. With the right medical support and an imaginative approach to mealtimes, you can find a balance that works for you and your family.
There are two types of immune reaction that cause CMPA symptoms: immunoglobulin (Ig)E-mediated or a non-IgE-mediated. In some instances children experience a combination of the two. If allergic reaction happens straight away within just a few minutes or an hour of ingesting cow’s milk protein, it is more likely IgE-mediated. Delayed reactions that take 48 hours or longer are more likely to be non-IgE-mediated.
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CMPA Causes
