Only Half of Children with Milk Allergy Outgrow It by Age 5 Years

A new online tool predicts a young child's chance of resolution.

Milk allergy affects 2% to 3% of U.S. children and is the most common childhood food allergy. Previous studies indicated that 75% of children "outgrow" this allergy, but newer studies suggest much lower rates of resolution. Researchers examined the natural history of milk allergy in 293 children from age 3 to 15 months to a median age of 63 months.

By age 5 years, milk allergy fully resolved in only 53% of patients. Another 21% could tolerate milk in baked goods. Larger skin-prick test size, higher milk-specific IgE (sIgE) level, and moderate-to-severe eczema at baseline were associated with lower likelihood of resolution.

CITATION(S):

Wood RA et al. The natural history of milk allergy in an observational cohort. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2013 Mar; 131:805. 

Spergel JM. Natural history of cow's milk allergy. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2013 Mar; 131:813.