About Allergies: Could Your Child's Food Allergy Be Something Else?

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Allergies Allergies Symptoms / Diagnosis Treatment Coping From Daniel More, MD, your Guide to Allergies Approximately 8% of children are diagnosed with food allergies, many of whom are infants. Infants often have only gastrointestinal symptoms as a result of food allergies, such as vomiting and diarrhea -- as opposed to older children and adults, who almost always experience skin symptoms as a result of food allergies. Many of these infants may have a non-allergic food intolerance, called food protein induced enterocolitis (FPIES), rather than a true food allergy. FPIES results in symptoms of profuse vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration and lethargy, typically within a few hours of eating the trigger foods. Milk and soy are the most common foods to cause FPIES, although solid foods, including cereal grains, legumes and poultry are other common causes. The diagnosis is made on a clinical basis, as allergy tests are usually negative. The treatment of FPIES involves avoidance of the trigger foods, although acute symptoms may require emergency care. Food Protein Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome Food protein induced enterocolitis syndrome, or FPIES, is a disease of infants and young children that mimics food allergies. Symptoms typically include vomiting, diarrhea (sometimes bloody), dehydration and low-blood pressure. The child or infant can appear lethargic, and over time can have problems gaining weight. Hospitalization for possible severe infection in common in children with FPIES. See More About:  food allergies  skin testing  milk allergy Baby Formula Allergy Infants with food allergies to milk and/or soy have limited options when it comes to the choice of baby formulas. There are 3 major groups of hypoallergenic formulas that are helpful for infants with or at risk of food allergies. Similar types of products are available for older children as well, but this information is not included in this article. See More About:  allergies  allergist  allergy testing All About Food Allergies Your doctor has just told you that you have food allergies. Now what? Unless you had a long discussion with him or her as to what this means, you're probably feeling a bit overwhelmed right now. You might be thinking, "What symptoms should I look for? How was this diagnosed? What are the treatments available? Will my food allergy ever go away?" These questions, and others, are common when a person is first diagnosed with food allergies. Find out the answers to these questions and more. See More About:  seeing an allergist  what your allergist will ask you  what to ask your allergist Anaphylaxis A description of anaphylaxis is offered along with common causes and treatment options. Medical conditions that may mimic anaphylaxis are also described. Allergies Ads Allergies Food Allergy Allergy Symptoms Milk Allergy Skin Allergy Featured Articles Allergy Shots and Drops (Immunotherapy) Alternative Therapies in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Allergies Glossary of Terms Information on the Most Common Allergy Medications Allergy Basics Frequently Asked Questions   More from About.com Essential Medical Tests for Women For women, certain medical tests and health screenings are recommended on a yearly basis. Learn which screenings are essential for your health, and why. More> Finding the Right Doctor Whether you need a new primary care doctor or a specialist to take care of specific symptoms, you'll want to follow these guidelines to choose the right physician for your medical care. More> This newsletter is written by: Daniel More, MD Allergies Guide Email Me | My Blog | My Forum   Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About Allergies newsletter. If you wish to change your email address or unsubscribe, please click here. About respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy Contact Information: 249 West 17th Street New York, NY, 10011 © 2011 About.com   Must Reads What are Allergies? Symptoms of Allergies Diagnosis of Allergies Treatment of Allergies Preventing Allergies Advertisement