Clinical Aspects of Gastrointestinal Food Allergy in Childhood

PEDIATRICS ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 111 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 1609-1616 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott H. Sicherer

Gastrointestinal food allergies are a spectrum of disorders that result from adverse immune responses to dietary antigens. The named disorders include immediate gastrointestinal hypersensitivity (anaphylaxis), oral allergy syndrome, allergic eosinophilic esophagitis, gastritis, and gastroenterocolitis; dietary protein enterocolitis, proctitis, and enteropathy; and celiac disease. Additional disorders sometimes attributed to food allergy include colic, gastroesophageal reflux, and constipation. The pediatrician faces several challenges in dealing with these disorders because diagnosis requires differentiating allergic disorders from many other causes of similar symptoms, and therapy requires identification of causal foods, application of therapeutic diets and/or medications, and monitoring for resolution of these disorders. This review catalogs the spectrum of gastrointestinal food allergies that affect children and provides a framework for a rational approach to diagnosis and management.

Foods ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 2662
Author(s):  
Elisa Zubeldia-Varela ◽  
Tomás Clive Barker-Tejeda ◽  
Frank Blanco-Pérez ◽  
Sonsoles Infante ◽  
José M. Zubeldia ◽  
...  

Non-IgE-mediated gastrointestinal food allergy (non-IgE-GI-FA) is the name given to a series of pathologies whose main entities are food protein-induced allergic proctocolitis (FPIAP), food protein-induced enteropathy (FPE), and food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES). These are more uncommon than IgE-mediated food allergies, their mechanisms remain largely unknown, and their diagnosis is mainly done by clinical history, due to the lack of specific biomarkers. In this review, we present the latest advances found in the literature about clinical aspects, the current diagnosis, and treatment options of non-IgE-GI-FAs. We discuss the use of animal models, the analysis of gut microbiota, omics techniques, and fecal proteins with a focus on understanding the pathophysiological mechanisms of these pathologies and obtaining possible diagnostic and/or prognostic biomarkers. Finally, we discuss the unmet needs that researchers should tackle to advance in the knowledge of these barely explored pathologies.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Greenhawt

Food allergy represents a rapidly growing public health problem in the United States and other westernized nations. Adverse reactions to foods are categorized as either immunologic or nonimmunologic reactions. This distinction is highly important but often confusing to patients and physicians unfamiliar with allergy, who may simply describe any adverse reaction to a food as an “allergy.” A food allergy is an immune-mediated, adverse reaction to one or more protein allergens in a particular food item involving recognition of that protein by specifically targeted IgE or allergen-specific T cells. This chapter discusses the definition, pathophysiology, epidemiology, testing, management, prognosis, and natural history of food allergy. Clinical manifestations are systematically covered, including cutaneous, respiratory, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal reactions, as well as eosinophilic esophagitis, food protein–induced enterocolitis syndrome, and oral allergy syndrome. Emerging treatments such as food oral immunotherapy are also reviewed. Tables outline signs and symptoms of immediate hypersensitivity reactions to food, the prevalence of major food allergens in the United States, common patterns of cross-reactivity among foods, clinical criteria for the diagnosis of anaphylaxis, and clinical studies involving treatment for food allergies. Figures illustrate the classification of adverse reactions to food, esophageal histology, visual and radiographic features of eosinophilic esophagitis, and a food allergy action plan. This review contains 4 figures, 8 tables, and 64 references. KeyWords: Food allergy, Hypersensitivity, IgE-mediated allergy, Eosinophilic esophagitis, Anaphylaxis


2016 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 133
Author(s):  
R. Balasasirekha

The book on Food Allergy: Molecular Basis and Clinical Practice gives a background on food allergy to the new learners. The clinical aspects, diagnosis and management, allergen and disease based food allergies and special topics to be looked into are enlightened to the readers in six sections.


Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 3725
Author(s):  
Dóra Solymosi ◽  
Miklós Sárdy ◽  
Györgyi Pónyai

Background: Adults frequently interpret food-associated adverse reactions as indicators of a food allergy. However, the public perception of food allergy may differ from a clinician’s point of view. The prevalence of patient-reported food allergy tends to be higher than physician-confirmed cases. Dermatological manifestations (urticaria, pruritus, dermatitis, and edema) are frequently reported by patients. Objective: The aim of this study was to describe patient-reported symptoms related to suspected food allergies and particularly to characterize and highlight the volume of patients who visit Budapest allergy clinics with suspected food allergies. Methods: In this prospective study, adult (≥18 years) patients were examined at the Allergology Outpatient Unit of the Dept. of Dermatology, Venereology, and Dermatooncology, Semmelweis University, Budapest. The examination included a detailed medical history; physical examination; and when necessary the measurement of allergen-specific serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels. Results: Data from 501 patients (393 women, 108 men) were analyzed. Intolerance to dietary biogenic amines occurred in 250 cases (250/501, 50%). Oral allergy syndrome was confirmed in 71 patients (71/501, 14%). Allergy to food preservatives was diagnosed in 14 (14/501, 3%) cases by a dermatologist-allergist specialist. Five individuals (5/501, 1%) were diagnosed with IgE-mediated food allergy. In some cases (28/501, 6%), edema-inducing/enhancing side effects of drugs were observed which patients had misattributed to various foods. Among the food groups considered to be provoking factors, the most frequently mentioned were fruits (198/501, 40%), milk/dairy products (174/501, 35%), and nuts/oilseeds (144/501, 29%). Overwhelmingly, urticaria (47%) was the most common dermatological diagnosis, followed by dermatitis (20%) and allergic contact dermatitis (8%). Conclusion: Improvement is needed in food allergy, food intolerance, and general nutritional knowledge among the general public. According to our data, perceived/self-reported food allergies were overestimated by adults when compared against physician-confirmed food allergies; however, other diseases potentially responsible for food-related problems were underestimated. The prevalence of oral allergy syndrome was high in the cohort. Intolerance to dietary biogenic amines was common, and although the role of dietary histamine and biogenic amine is not entirely understood in eliciting patients’ symptoms, improvements in complaints were reported during the control visits.


2021 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-16
Author(s):  
Ayşen Genç Aksoy ◽  
Perran Boran ◽  
Elif Karakoc-Aydiner ◽  
Gulbin Gokcay ◽  
Zeynep Ulker Tamay ◽  
...  

Background: The prevalence of allergic disorders is on the rise, affecting about 10% of the population. In this retrospective cohort, we investigated prevalence of allergic disorders, associated risk factors, and the outcome of food allergies.  Material and methods: We analyzed data from birth cohorts of two university hospitals’ well-child outpatient clinics. Factors related to onset and type of allergic diseases were assessed from demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical data.  Results: Analyses were performed on 949 (431F/518M) infants at a mean current age of 28±6 months. Any allergic disease was established among 177 cases (22%); atopic dermatitis in 123 (12.8%), respiratory allergies in 55 (5.7%), and food allergy in 41 (4.3%). The risk for allergic disorders was found to be significantly increased for male gender (OR: 2.31, 95% CI; 1.54–3.46), and positive parental atopy (OR: 1.94, 95% CI; 1.31–2.86). The risk of food allergies was significantly higher in the male gender (OR: 2.47, 95% CI; 1.21–5.02), who consumed egg-white between 6 and 12 months (OR: 2.34, 95% CI; 1.22–4.48), and who were formula-fed before 6 months (OR: 2.16, 95% CI; 1.14–4.10). We found no significant association between the rate of food allergy outgrowth or food induced-anaphylaxis with regards to the timing of introducing egg-white into the diet.  Conclusions: Although the introduction of egg-white into infant diet at 6–12 months of life appeared as an independent risk for any food allergy, none of the patients developed anaphylaxis. Age at symptom onset and outgrowing food allergy were similar compared to those introduced egg-white after 12 months. We recommend promoting exclusive breastfeeding during the first 6 months of life, and avoidance of prolonged restrictive diets for children with food allergy.   


2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 152
Author(s):  
Tonny Tanus ◽  
Sunny Wangko

Abstrak: Prevalensi alergi makanan makin meningkat di seluruh dunia dan mengenai semua usia. Keparahan dan kompleksitas penyakit juga meningkat terlebih pada populasi anak. Terdapat beberapa jenis reaksi alergi yang dibahas: immunoglobulin E (IgE) mediated allergies and anaphylaxis, food triggered atopic dermatitis, eosinophilic esophagitis, dan non IgE mediated gastrointestinal food allergic disorders seperti food protein induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIEs). Tes alergi, baik melalui kulit maupun IgE yang telah dikerjakan sekian lama masih dibebani dengan hasil positif palsu dan negatif palsu yang bermakna dengan manfaat terbatas pada beberapa alergi makanan. Selain menghindari, tidak terdapat terapi yang ampuh untuk alergi makanan. Berbagai imunoterapi telah dipelajari melalui jalur, subkutan, epikutan, oral dan sublingual yang hanya menghasilkan desensitisasi sementara dan dibebani dengan berbagai isu mengenai keamanannya. Agen biologik yang menghambat sitokin/interleukin (IL) dan molekul pada reaksi alergi makanan tampaknya merupakan pilihan yang menjanjikan. Anti IgE telah dipergunakan pada asma dan urtikaria kronis. Anti IL-4 dan IL-13 yang menghambat produksi IgE diindikasikan untuk dermatitis atopik. Anti eosinofil anti IL-5 berhasil menurunkan eksaserbasi asma. Berbagai agen biologik telah dipelajari untuk berbagai kondisi alergik dan imunologik, tetapi efektivitas dan kepraktisan terapi yang mahal ini untuk alergi makanan masih menjadi tanda tanya.Kata kunci: alergi makanan, reaksi alergi, terapi alergi makananAbstract: Food allergies have been increasing in prevalence for years affecting all ages. Disease severity and complexity have also increased, especially in the pediatric population. There are several types of reactions including: immunoglobulin-E (IgE) mediated allergies and anaphylaxis, food-triggered atopic dermatitis, eosinophilic esophagitis, and non IgE mediated gastrointestinal food allergic disorders such as FPIEs. Though allergy testing has been around for years, both skin and IgE testing are burdened by significant false positives and negatives, and are only useful in some food allergies. Avoidance is the sole therapy for food allergy. A variety of immunotherapies have been studied; subcutaneous, epicutaneous, oral, and sublingual. At best they only produce a temporary state of desensitization and have many safety issues. Examples of biologicals which block critical cytokines/interleukins (IL) in allergic conditions are Anti IgE, anti IL-4 and IL-13, and Anti eosinophils, Anti IL-5. Other biologicals are being studied for allergic conditions, but whether these expensive future treatments will be proven effective and practical in food allergy is unknown.Keywords: food allergy, allergic reaction, food allergy therapy


Cells ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 546 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Schülke ◽  
Melanie Albrecht

Food allergies are a steadily increasing health and economic problem. Immunologically, food allergic reactions are caused by pathological, allergen-specific Th2 responses resulting in IgE-mediated mast cell degranulation and associated inflammatory reactions. Clinically, food allergies are characterized by local inflammation of the mouth mucosa, the face, the throat, the gastrointestinal tract, are frequently paralleled by skin reactions, and can result in life-threatening anaphylactic reactions. To better understand food allergies and establish novel treatment options, mouse models are indispensable. This review discusses the available mouse food allergy models, dividing them into four categories: (1) adjuvant-free mouse models, (2) mouse models relying on adjuvants to establish allergen-specific Th2 responses, (3) mouse models using genetically-modified mouse strains to allow for easier sensitization, and (4) humanized mouse models in which different immunodeficient mouse strains are reconstituted with human immune or stem cells to investigate humanized immune responses. While most of the available mouse models can reproducibly portray the immunological parameters of food allergy (Th2 immune responses, IgE production and mast cell activation/expansion), so far, the recreation of the clinical parameters has proven more difficult. Therefore, up to now none of the available mouse models can reproduce the complete human pathology.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Greenhawt

Food allergy represents a rapidly growing public health problem in the United States and other westernized nations. Adverse reactions to foods are categorized as either immunologic or nonimmunologic reactions. This distinction is highly important but often confusing to patients and physicians unfamiliar with allergy, who may simply describe any adverse reaction to a food as an “allergy.” A food allergy is an immune-mediated, adverse reaction to one or more protein allergens in a particular food item involving recognition of that protein by specifically targeted IgE or allergen-specific T cells. This chapter discusses the definition, pathophysiology, epidemiology, testing, management, prognosis, and natural history of food allergy. Clinical manifestations are systematically covered, including cutaneous, respiratory, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal reactions, as well as eosinophilic esophagitis, food protein–induced enterocolitis syndrome, and oral allergy syndrome. Emerging treatments such as food oral immunotherapy are also reviewed. Tables outline signs and symptoms of immediate hypersensitivity reactions to food, the prevalence of major food allergens in the United States, common patterns of cross-reactivity among foods, clinical criteria for the diagnosis of anaphylaxis, and clinical studies involving treatment for food allergies. Figures illustrate the classification of adverse reactions to food, esophageal histology, visual and radiographic features of eosinophilic esophagitis, and a food allergy action plan. This review contains 4 figures, 8 tables, and 64 references. KeyWords: Food allergy, Hypersensitivity, IgE-mediated allergy, Eosinophilic esophagitis, Anaphylaxis


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