The Three Types of Clinical Manifestation of Cow's Milk Allergy with Predominantly Intestinal Symptoms / 대한소아소화기영양학회지

PURPOSE: During the first year of life, cow's milk protein is the major offender causing food allergy. Cow's milk allergy (CMA) affects 2~7% of infants, of which approximately one-half show predominantly gastrointestinal symptoms. We studied the clinical types of cow's milk allergy with predominantly gastrointestinal symptoms (CMA-GI) of childhood. METHODS: The retrospective study was performed on 30 (male 22, female 8) patients who had diagnosed as CMA-GI during 2 years and 3 months from March 1995 to June 1997. RESULTS: 1) Children with CMA-GI presented in the three types of clinical manifestation on the basis of time to reaction to milk ingestion: Quick (Q) onset (5 cases), Slow (S) onset (20 cases), Quick & Slow (Q&S) (5 cases). 2) Age on admission of the three groups was significantly different (p<0.05): (Q onset: 81.4+/-67.1 days, S onset: 31.9+/-12.7 days, Q&S: 366.0+/-65.0 days). Although the body weight at birth was 10~95 percentile in all patients, body weight on admission was different: (Q onset: 10~50 percentile, S onset: below 10 percentile, Q&S: 10~25 percentile). S onset group was significantly different compared with other groups (p<0.05) and 90% of this one was failure to thrive below 3 percentile. 3) Peripheral leukocyte counts were as followings: (Q onset: 5,700~12,300/mm(3), S onset: 10,000~33,400/mm(3), Q&S 5,200~14,900/mm(3)). Slow onset group was significantly different compared with other groups (p<0.05). Serum albumin levels on admission were as followings: (Q onset: 4.2+/-0.4g/dl, S onset: 3.0+/- 0.3g/dl, Q&S: 4.0+/-0.3g/dl). S onset froup was significantly different compared with other groups(p<0.05) and 85% of this one was below 3.5g/dl. 4) Although morphometrical analysis on small intestinal mucosa did not show enteropathy in Q onset and Q&S groups, all cases of S onset revealed enteropathy: 45% of this one showed subtotal villous atrophy, 55% showed partial villous atrophy. 5) Allergic reaction test to other foods was not performed in S onset group because of ethical problem and high risk in general condition. In Q onset group, allergic reaction to one or two other foods: soy formula, weaning formula and eggs. Q&S group revealed allergic reactions to several foods or to most of all foods except protein hydrolysate formula: eggs, potatos, some kinds of sea food, apples, carrots, beef and chicken. 6) Serum IgE level, peripheral eosinophil counts, milk RAST, soy RAST, skin test were not significantly different among groups. CONCLUSION: CMA-GI may present in three clinical ways on the basis of time to reaction to milk ingestion, typical clinical findings and morphologic changes in the small bowel mucosal biopsy specimens. This clinical subdivision might be helpful in diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in CMA-GI. Early suspicion is mandatory especially in S onset type because of high risks with malnutrition and enteropathy.

Statistical observation on neonate

A statistical observation was performed on 13,317 cases of neonates who had been delivered at Taegu Catholic Hospital during the past 3 years from Jan, 1st 1988 to Dec. 31st 1990. The results obtained were as follows: 1) Among 13,317 neonates, the male was 7,234 and the female 6,083, with the sex ratio of male to female being 1.19:1 2) Percentage distribution by birth weight was 5.6% for 2.500gm or less, 3.3% for 4,001gm or more. The mortality rate was 8.4 per 1,000 live births and 61.1% for very low birth weight infants. 57.1% of neonatal death occured within 24 hours after birth and the most common cause of death was prematurity (53.6%). 3) The mean growth data at birth were as following: Weight: 3,253+/-484gm in male, 3,160+/-456gm in female; Height: 50.11+/-2.59cm in male, 49.57+/-2.50cm in female; Head circumference: 33.60+/-1.74cm in male, 33.12+/-1.64cm in female; Chest circumference: 32.83+/-1.83cm in male, 32.41+/-1.75cm in female. 4) Among 13,317 noenates, 352 (2.6%) were under 37 wks and 555 (4.2%) above 42 wks and 92.6% very low birth weight infants under 37 wks. 5) 44.2% of 13,317 neonates, was the highest-density distribution which was between 47.5~52.4cm by length and 3,001~3,500gm by weighing. 6) The admission rate was 13.7% and the causes of admission in order of frequency were neonatal infection (47.9%), premature or low birth weight infant (12.9%), neonatal jaundice (11.3%), asphyxia neonatorum (6.9%), respiratory disress syndrome (5.4%), etc. 7) Among all neonates, 2.2% had neonatal asphyxia (a 1-minute Apgar score of 6 or less). The highest incidence was 19.7% in the breech delivery group by delivery mode and 33.6% in the prematurity by gestational age. 8) The types of delivery in order of frequency were spontaneous vaginal delivery (72.5%), Cesarean section (21.9%), vacuum delivery (5.0%), breech delivery (0.5%) and forceps delivery (0.1%). 9) The incidence of twin babies was 182 (91 pairs), 1.37% of all neonates, 1 pair per 145 neonates. Of all twins, 50.5% were below 2,500gm of birth weight and 20.9% premature. 10) The incidence of neonatal jaundice was 63.0%. Of icteric neonates, 8.2% had pathologic jaundice treated by phototherapy or exchange transfusion. 11) Among all neonates, there were 7,705 cases (57.9%) with high risk factors; the order of frequency was Cesarean section (37.8), meconium stained (13.3%), premature rupture of membranes over 24 hours (12.7%), birth weight 2,500gm or less (9.6%), etc.