According to Live Strong “Consuming foods that trigger an allergic reaction places you at greater risk of developing secondary infections. Most symptoms from a milk allergy are the result of inflammation throughout the body. An ear infection can occur if you continue to ingest dairy products with a milk protein allergy. If you suspect you may have an ear infection, call your doctor for an evaluation. Avoid consuming all dairy products and talk with a registered dietician about a dairy elimination diet.
A milk protein allergy occurs when your immune system mistakes the proteins in dairy products as a potentially dangerous substance. Milk contains whey and casein proteins that may be found in more than the obvious dairy products such as milk, butter and cheese. Milk proteins may be used in hard candy, nondairy products, protein powders, artificial butter flavor and caramel, according to the Mayo Clinic. If a packaged food contains milk proteins, the manufacturer is required by law to place an allergy warning near the ingredients that states the food product contains milk.
When the immune system overreacts to milk proteins, it causes the creation of immunoglobulin E antibodies, histamine and other chemicals that are released in the blood stream and soft tissues. These chemicals cause swelling, inflammation and increased blood flow to various systems in your body, such as the cardiovascular system, skin, respiratory system and digestive system. Inflammation throughout the body leads to sinus congestion, chest tightness, difficulty breathing, coughing, skin rashes and irritation, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, according to Kids Health.
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An ear infection occurs when the tube in your ear that drains fluid gets blocked. After consuming dairy products, the soft tissue in your sinuses and inner ear can become swollen, cutting off your ability to drain mucus in the ears. The trapped mucus becomes an environment for bacteria to grow. An ear infection will cause fullness in the ear, a popping sound in the ear, ear pain, diarrhea, vomiting, temporary hearing loss and a low-grade fever. If you notice discharge or blood draining from your ear, call your doctor immediately.”
Many of us who grew up in the 50’s and 60’s suffer from reoccurring ear infections. Maybe you had tubes put in your ears as a child. Perhaps your tonsils and/or adenoids were removed also. Removing presumably useless body parts was common practice decades ago. Now as adults many of us children of the 60’s still get ear infections. We call or visit our General Practitioner and often they prescribe an antibiotic. The infection ‘goes away”. A few months pass and another ear infection occurs. The same treatment is prescribed. When do you reach the enough is enough stage? Do you want to know WHY the ear infections keep occurring? How do you stop the cycle? Perhaps it is time to ask your doctor to order an allergy test. The cause could be the very common allergy to dairy products.
If your doctor won't order an allergy test, then perhaps it is time to seek out a Naturopathic Physician.
