Inquiry
A three-month-old infant with animal protein allergies, eczema, and asthmatic bronchitis, the parents inquire:
- Is it feasible to switch the infant from animal protein formula to soy formula to eliminate the allergen source?
- If the allergen source is indeed animal protein, will the bronchitis improve after switching to soy formula? Is bronchitis caused by viral infection and allergic reactions? (It is known that eczema and asthma will improve)
- Does colostrum contain animal protein? Considering the nutritional components of soy formula, the parents want to know if it is safe to supplement the infant with colostrum.
Answer
For infants with milk allergies, it is recommended to use amino acid-based or extensively hydrolyzed formula instead of soy formula, as milk allergy sufferers also have a high rate of allergies to goat’s milk and soy milk. When introducing new complementary foods, it is best to start with rice porridge and non-allergenic foods like carrot puree. When introducing a variety of foods, it is important to start with small amounts and observe the infant’s reaction. Only continue adding new foods if there are no allergic reactions.