Fresh goat's milk for infants: myths and realities--a review

Pediatrics. 2010 Apr;125(4):e973-7. doi: 10.1542/peds.2009-1906. Epub 2010 Mar 15.

Abstract

Many infants are exclusively fed unmodified goat's milk as a result of cultural beliefs as well as exposure to false online information. Anecdotal reports have described a host of morbidities associated with that practice, including severe electrolyte abnormalities, metabolic acidosis, megaloblastic anemia, allergic reactions including life-threatening anaphylactic shock, hemolytic uremic syndrome, and infections. We describe here an infant who was fed raw goat's milk and sustained intracranial infarctions in the setting of severe azotemia and hypernatremia, and we provide a comprehensive review of the consequences associated with this dangerous practice.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Child, Preschool
  • Goats
  • Humans
  • Hypernatremia / diagnosis*
  • Hypernatremia / etiology*
  • Hypernatremia / prevention & control
  • Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena* / physiology
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Milk / adverse effects*
  • Mythology*
  • Respiration Disorders / diagnosis
  • Respiration Disorders / etiology
  • Respiration Disorders / prevention & control