The Place of Cow Milk Allergy in Gastroenterology Practice

70 Ad dress for Cor res pon den ce/Ya z›fl ma Ad re si Caner Turan M.D., Ege University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, İzmir, Turkey Phone: +90 555 415 39 00 E-mail: canertrn@yahoo.com Re cei ved/Ge liş ta ri hi: 23.11.2014 Ac cep ted/Ka bul ta ri hi: 215.04.2015 ABS TRACT ÖZET Aim: Cow milk allergy (CMA) prevalence is between 2-7.5%; this prevalence decreases towards adolescence. In this study, children with cow milk allergy were evaluated retrospectively in terms of clinical findings at referral and responses to the treatment. Materials and Methods: In this study, 36 children (Female/Male: 13/23) diagnosed with CMA were assessed in terms of diarrhea type, other accompanying system findings, laboratory values, serological tests, endoscopic findings, histopathological findings and treatment. Results: Cow milk specific IgE (Fx2) was positive only in 11 cases (30%). The most common symptom was discomfort 63.9% (n=23); frequency of gastrointestinal system findings were as follows: vomiting 52.8% (n=19), diarrhea 50% (n=18), bloody diarrhea 22.2% (n=8). Also, atopic skin findings 44% (n=16), chronic cough 38.8% (n=14) and reactive airway disease were observed in 22.2% (n=8) cases. Eosinophilic inflammation colitis was detected in patients undergoing colonoscopy. Of the 5 cases undergoing gastroduodenoscopy, results were compatible with eosinophilic esophagitis in 3 and with eosinophilic gastroenteritis in 2. We determined that 33 of the cases (92%) gave full response to elimination diet while in 2 cases symptoms persisted although their intensity decreased. Conclusion: In children with CMA, most frequent complaints were discomfort, vomiting and diarrhea. In 47% of cases, more than one organ was involved. Eosinophilic infiltration was detected in all patients undergoing endoscopy. The Journal of Pediatric Research 2015;2(2):70-3