Possible food/milk allergy?

When we started to wean my Son a few months ago we noticed after certain foods he developed a rash - like a nettle/blister type rash. I made a note of the foods that caused it but was unable to pin it down to anything.

We went to see our doctor who refered us to a paediatrician. In the mean time he has no longer been getting the rash - I have even given him something that I knew caused it before but nothing, however he has has bad diarrhoea for a few months - which leaks out of his nappy and has mucus in it.

We saw the paediatrician who, without doing any tests etc, said it was a milk protien allergy.

I am now waiting to see a dietician but told this could take a long time.

I have has his poo tested at the doctors for an infection but that came back clear.

Just wondered if an allergy can move from a rash to diarrhoea?
wouldnt he have got the rash previously when had yogurt if allergic to milk protiens?

Is mucus Diarrhoea usual for months in a 8 month old?

He is now 8 months old and is happy and gaining weight - although only small amounts.

Any help, advice etc welcome.

More info -

I breastfeed my son - have not tried formula - esp due to this. He has never had any problem with breastmilk, this only started when I started to wean him on to solids.

He never had colic and he has only been sick a handful of times since birth.

I am laughing at your pediatrician. No testing but he just knows its a milk issue? Amazing!

While milk is a common allergy, its not the only cause of problems and I'd advise you to test this out at home.

If he is allergic to something and still breastfeeding, you'll have to avoid eating his allergen as well.

Allergies are wierd things, and reactions can change over time, sponteneously for no apparent reason. Sometimes its the amount of teh allergen ingested, sometimes its the form the allergen is in (cooking fumes vs actually eating it) or just smiling the wrong way. :) Hives can move to diarrhea and diarrhea to hives, to breathing problems, ear infections, whatever.

I'd try removing milk, see if it helps. If not, try something else. It could be wheat, soy, corn, tomato, peanuts, rice, etc and so on. Try removing a food (both you and him) for a week or two.. give it at least 4 days to start judging improvement. If after two weeks, there's no improvement and you've both been milk-free then its probably not milk.. unless he gets extremely sick when milk is reindroduced.. then it might be milk as well as something else.

Corn and soy can be extremely difficult to avoid, but are very common allergens for babies. You may have to do some serious research on these two foods in order to truely avoid them well enough for a test.

I was a computer technician before becoming a parent which involved hours and hours of deduction and the elimination process. What is the hardest thing I have experienced is elimination of possible allergens. My daughter was diagnosed with a milk protein allergy at 6 weeks. Eliminated dairy from my breastmilk and no more diarrohea.

I suspect your Dr is correct. I would be sifting through your babies stools for any signs of blood (tiny specks or streaks). I would check the pathology results for "white blood cells". Is his poo greenish? Yes symptoms can change from wheezing, problematic skin, fussy and digestive problems which includes diarrohea. The small amounts of weight gain points to an intolerance.

It sounds like a milk allergy/intolerance or sensitivity (all are very different) and don't worry about it - most babies outgrow it or it gets so much less problematic.

For now as baby is only 8 months old don't give him any dairy and then reintroduce it in a few months (say only a teaspoon)

Again, nothing to worry about - it's normal but you are just lucky and found it early.

Did your son have colic as a baby? Did you breastfeed or formula feed (and if so what type - don't give me the name but tell me was it standard cows milk, hydro, lactose free etc) I'll come back and check on your edit or feel free to email me.

EDIT - okay we need to go through some more questions particularly with yoru knowledge of the family allergies. Email me if you need someone to brainstorm with and we can go through possibilities - I've got a list of solid introductions for allergy prone children