Prof. Maciej Kaczmarski: When feeding turns into a nightmare. Milk allergy

Gastrointestinal problems in infants are often dismissed with the expectation that children will simply outgrow them. However, when these issues are compounded by symptoms of a developing cow's milk protein allergy, infants cannot articulate their discomfort, instinctively resisting feeding. This situation creates significant disruption and psychological burden, particularly for mothers, according to allergist Prof. Maciej Kaczmarski.

Professor Kaczmarski believes that in some older children and even adult patients, chronic conditions such as persistent colds, coughs, sinus problems, and headaches could stem from undiagnosed food allergies that originated in childhood. He emphasizes that these underlying allergies may have been missed during early diagnosis.

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I am convinced that in some older children, and even adult patients, chronic conditions such as persistent colds, coughs, sinus problems, and headaches may be symptoms of food allergies that occurred in childhood and were not recognized.

Reflecting on the evolution of medical understanding, Kaczmarski notes that during his medical studies in the 1960s, infectious diseases were considered the primary pediatric concern. With the advent of antibiotics and vaccines, these diseases were largely controlled, creating an "ecological niche" that has since been filled by allergic diseases. At that time, only a few allergies were recognized in Poland, including asthma, hay fever, and anaphylactic shock. Knowledge about food allergies, particularly in adults, was limited, with Professor Bohdan Romański being a key figure in that area.

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When they are compounded by symptoms of a developing cow's milk protein allergy, the infant will not tell us about it, but instinctively defends itself against feeding.