It has been a widely held belief that drinking milk or eat-ing dairy-containing foods causes an increase in nasal mucus production. However, there is no scientific evi-dence that daily consumption of milk has a chronic effect on nasal mucus production. Milk can act as an allergen in children (usually younger than 5 years) and occasionally older children and adults.
Milk allergy usually manifests with gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhea or cramping; as a skin rash, with eczema or hives; and less commonly with anaphylaxis, consisting of throat swelling, wheezing, and/or low blood pressure. If you suspect that a member of your family does not tolerate milk in some way, bring it to the attention of your physician and inquire whether an allergic evaluation would be beneficial. Because milk is a very important source of vitamins A and D, riboflavin, calcium, and protein, I recommend against removing milk and other dairy products from their diet without medical consultation.