Nov 6, 2008 6:12 pm US/Eastern
Report Pushes Doctors Toward Milk Allergy Cure
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
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Newly published research in Baltimore is pushing doctors closer to a cure for the most common of food allergy.
CBS
Milk has become a mainstay in the American diet, but for some, milk can kill.
Healthwatch reporter Kellye Lynn explains a newly published report in Baltimore is pushing doctors closer to a cure for the most common of food allergy.
Eyewitness News first told you about this story earlier this year. Doctors at Johns Hopkins have found a way to cure milk allergies by giving severely allergic patients exactly that.
Lauren Mezzanotte is now doing something she couldn't for most of her life, until recently. The 10-year-old considered milk to be a danger, even deadly to drink, but now she is able to drink milk.
"Potentially, her throat could close," said Tara Mezzanotte, Lauren's mother.
"I couldn't eat ice cream, cookies," said Lauren.
Now those foods are no longer off limits. Newly published research out of the Johns Hopkins Children's Center offers a way to cure milk allergies.
"The idea was to see if we could teach their body to tolerate milk, to use the allergy shot concept where you gradually expose someone to what they're allergic to," said Dr. Robert Wood.
Gradually giving the children higher doses of milk powder proved effective. After four months, most of the participants in the study were able to consume milk without having an allergic reaction.
"When we started the study, the average amount of milk that caused an allergic reaction was about a quarter teaspoon. When we finished, the average dose was over five-ounces. They had more than a hundred fold increase in their milk tolerance," said Dr. Wood.
It's an encouraging outcome, but since the research is in its early stages, the recommendation for the allergic remains unchanged.
The only way to manage the problem is to avoid milk and treat reactions as they happen.
Since becoming involved in the study, Lauren hasn't had any reactions and drinks milk every day.
Her favorite foods?
"Umm, I think it would be ice cream or pizza," said Lauren.
Although Lauren is enjoying foods that contain milk, she's still allergic to nuts. Her dream is for doctors to cure that allergy so she can have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
Dr. Wood advises the children in his study to continue to drink milk to maintain their resistance.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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