Clinical and Nutritional Profile of Children with Cow's Milk Allergy

Food allergy is a public health problem with a clinical, financial and social impact. Studying this issue contributes to its prevention and treatment. The aim of this book was to describe the profile of paediatric patients with Cow's Milk Protein Allergy. This was a survey of children under the age of two treated at a public hospital in Brasília and enrolled in a home-based nutritional therapy programme. Personal, clinical, nutritional and anthropometric data were collected from medical records. The average time of exclusive breastfeeding was 2 months and 76 per cent were exclusively breastfed for less than 4 months. The average age of onset of symptoms was 2 months. Of the total population, 95% had gastrointestinal symptoms, 55% dermatological, 18% respiratory and 13% anthropometric changes. The most prescribed formula was extensively hydrolysed formula without lactose. It was concluded that the time of exclusive breastfeeding was less than recommended, with the possible early onset of symptoms. There was a predominance of eutrophic children, which may be due to their access to early treatment through a government programme.