Allergy to goat and sheep milk without cow milk allergy: General revue and case report

We report the case of an 11-year-old adolescent who had severe allergic reactions to goat and sheep milk but not to cow milk. The diagnosis was based on a convincing clinical history, positive skin tests and serum IgE antibody assay results. This sort of allergy, now being encountered more and more frequently, has all the characteristics of a severe allergic reaction. Extensive homology between the structure of goat and sheep caseins accounts for the coexistence of these two allergies. Our patient had experienced anaphylaxis induced by effort followed by ingestion of a cow milk-containing product. An oral provocation test with cow milk after physical effort reproduced this reaction. While avoidance is still the best method of prevention, an anaphylaxis emergency kit should be prescribed in all similar cases. (c) 2005 Elsevier SAS. Tons droits reserves.