Allergic alveolitis in cow milk allergy

The case history of a 12 months old boy with recurrent pneumonia following ingestion of cow's milk is described. After receiving cow's milk containing formula he presented with fever, tachypnea, diffuse rales and crepitations over both lungs. The chest X-ray revealed marked bilateral alveolar shadows. A high titer of antibodies against the four major antigenic components of cow's milk protein was demonstrated by Ouchterlony's precipitation test and the fluorescent immunosorbent test. Withdrawal of cow's milk from the diet resulted in complete resolution of clinical and radiological findings.