Treat Allergic Colitis in Babies

If your baby has been diagnosed with allergic colitis, you may be wondering what you can safely feed your infant. Since allergic reactions are a result of something in the baby's diet, you'll need to work with the baby's doctor to identify the allergen. If you're feeding your baby formula, you'll need to switch formulas until you find one that your baby tolerates. If you're breastfeeding, start eliminating common allergenic foods (like cow's milk) until your baby's symptoms improve. While your baby won't need medication, you will need to work closely with the pediatrician to monitor your baby's health.

Steps

Treating Allergic Colitis in Formula-Fed Babies

  1. Get a diagnosis of allergic colitis. If your baby has bloody stools, gastrointestinal problems (like nausea, vomiting or diarrhea), or seems extremely fussy or irritable, get them examined by their pediatrician. The pediatrician may diagnose your baby with mild to moderate or severe allergic colitis, a reaction to an allergen that the baby is getting through their diet. The doctor will work with you to find a formula that the baby isn't allergic to.
  2. Switch to an extensively-hydrolyzed formula. If your baby is currently taking formula and has mild to moderate allergic colitis, talk with the doctor about choosing a hypoallergenic formula. Look for an extensively-hydrolyzed formula to offer your baby. [1]
    • Extensively-hydrolyzed formulas break down the protein found in cow's milk so it's easier for your baby to digest. 90% of babies with cow's milk allergies are able to use extensively-hydrolyzed formula.
  3. Avoid switching to a soy-based formula. While you may consider offering a soy formula, remember that soy can also be an allergen. 8 to 14% of babies with a cow's milk allergy are also allergic to soy. Studies have shown that soy-based formulas may actually increase your baby's risk for developing a soy allergy (especially if they're under six months old).[2]
  4. Follow up with the doctor after three weeks. Your baby will probably need to be checked about three weeks after switching to an extensively-hydrolyzed formula. The doctor will monitor any changes in growth and ask if there have been any allergic reactions.
    • If your baby reacted to the extensively-hydrolyzed formula, the doctor will recommend changing to an amino acid-based formula which is even easier for your baby to digest. You'll have to follow up again in another two to three weeks.
  5. Switch to an amino acid-based formula if your baby's allergic colitis is severe. If your baby hasn't improved after switching to an extensively-hydrolyzed formula or their allergic colitis was diagnosed as severe, switch to an amino-acid based formula. These hypoallergenic formulas are designed for babies who are allergic to the extensively-hydrolyzed formulas.
    • Depending on the severity of your baby's allergic colitis, you'll need to talk with the doctor about when to follow up after changing formulas. For example, the doctor may want to see your baby after two weeks.

Treating Allergic Colitis in Breastfed Babies

  1. Get a diagnosis of allergic colitis. If your baby has bloody stools, gastrointestinal problems (like nausea, vomiting or diarrhea), or seems extremely fussy or irritable, get them examined by their pediatrician. The pediatrician may diagnose your baby with mild to moderate or severe allergic colitis, a reaction to an allergen that the baby is getting through their diet. You'll need to talk about changes to your diet so you're not passing any allergens through your breast milk.
  2. Discuss your baby's diet with the doctor. If you're breastfeeding your baby, talk with the doctor about your baby's feeding schedule. You'll also need to inform the doctor about your own diet since the baby may be reacting to an allergen that's passing through breast milk. The doctor will talk with you about starting an elimination diet, where you remove the allergic food from your diet so your breast milk doesn't contain the allergen.
    • The doctor will probably ask if you're on any special diet or if you're consuming cow's milk.
  3. Remove cow's milk from your diet. Since cow's milk is the most common allergen, you'll most likely need to eliminate it from your diet immediately. You'll need to stop drinking cow's milk and avoid eating products made with cow's milk. Instead, try to substitute dairy free products (like hemp or nut-based milks and products). Avoid products that contain:[3]
    • Cow's milk or cream
    • Cheese
    • Butter
    • Ice cream
    • Sour cream
    • Cottage cheese
  4. Add a calcium supplement to your diet. Since you won't be getting as much calcium in your diet from dairy sources, you'll need to take a daily calcium supplement. Look for a daily supplement that contains 1000 mg of calcium. Take the supplement as long as you're on the elimination diet.[3]
    • You can also get calcium from non-dairy foods. For example, eat more broccoli, dark leafy greens, beans, fish with bones (like canned salmon or sardines).
  5. Follow up with the doctor after two weeks. If your baby is allergic to the protein in cow's milk, you should notice an improvement within 72 to 96 hours of removing cow's milk from your diet. Many notice the allergic reactions clear up within a few weeks. Check back with the doctor after two weeks of the elimination diet.
    • The doctor can also give you advice about gradually reintroducing the allergenic food back into your diet after a few months.[3]
  6. Remove other allergenic foods one at a time. If your baby's symptoms do not improve after eliminating cow's milk from your diet, you can slowly begin eating it again. Eliminate one more allergenic food for at least two weeks to see if your baby improves. Talk with the doctor about removing these allergenic foods one at a time:
    • Soy
    • Citrus fruits
    • Eggs
    • Nuts (especially peanuts)
    • Wheat
    • Corn
    • Strawberries
    • Chocolate
  7. See a pediatric subspecialist if your baby has severe allergic colitis. If the doctor diagnoses your baby with severe allergic colitis, you'll probably be told to start the elimination diet and make an appointment with a pediatric subspecialist. A pediatric allergist or gastroenterologist will examine your baby to make a more specific diagnosis and treatment plan.[3]
    • The subspecialist may want you to switch from breastfeeding to a hypoallergenic formula depending on results of blood tests.

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://www.kidswithfoodallergies.org/page/formula-options-infants-food-allergies.aspx
  2. ↑ http://www.neneccg.nhs.uk/resources/uploads/files/Infant%20Formula%20Prescribing%20Guidelines.pdf
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 http://www.bfmed.org/Media/Files/Protocols/Protocol24_English_120211.pdf

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