Abstract
A boy was born at 33 weeks 6 days gestation by cesarean section with a birth weight of 2,210 g. His growth was unremarkable by breast feeding. On postnatal day 53, he had an acute abdomen with fever and free air on X-ray. Although emergency laparotomy was performed, the site of perforation was not found. He was doing well after operation; however, he was referred again on postnatal day 86 because of paralytic ileus. Although he responded well to conservative treatment, symptoms recurred on the day 5 after admission. Although milk-specific IgE and allergenspecific lymphocyte stimulation tests were negative, cow's milk allergy was suggested through a careful history taking. Thereafter, oral intake of cow's milk was strictly prohibited, and breast feeding without maternal intake of cow's milk followed. Thereafter, he fared well and was non-eventful. Milk allergy should be considered when an infant presents intestinal perforation of unknown origin.
