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.
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