All I can say is trust your gut. My 10 month old son had questionable stools (looking back on it, it was diareah)and atopic dermititis pretty much from the time he was born up to when he started eating solids. His pediatrician tested his stools for blood, and since there wasn't any, ruled out a milk allergy and said it was "normal." So I continued to eat dairy (I was breastfeeding him). She also said to keep putting on the hydrocortizon 1% since it was clearing his skin up and we listened to her. Well, we started supplementing with cow's milk formula at about 5 months and a few weeks later he developed hives. At that point they referred us to an allergist and my son tested positive for a severe allergy to milk. Now I am kicking myself thinking that I should have done something earlier when I suspected there was a problem rather than listening to my doctor. My point is, get a second, third, or even fourth opinion. What will it hurt? And your questions will be answered. We are in the middle of switching allergists and will be seeing Dr. Mary Tobin at Rush at the beginning of JAnuary -- I've heard she is very good. I think she may also see patients in Oak Park if that is better for you. Also, I have read that an allergy to milk can cause ear infections. In addition, there is a lot of literature regarding the affects of anitbiotics on allergies -- they make them worse, so if it is an allergy, I would be careful with the antibiotics as well.
