Food Allergies

Food allergies are quite common among children but it is important to diagnose the condition to rule out non-immunologic diseases that have similar symptoms. The reactions caused by the immune response to allergies can be mediated by immunoglobulin (Ig)E or cell or both.

Symptoms

• Vomiting
• Reflux
• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhea
• Constipation

In case of cell-mediated disorders, the symptoms are localized to the gut while symptoms in other target organs are common in case of IgE. On an average, about 6-8% of children are affected by food allergies and 4% adults. Most common foods that cause an allergic reaction include:

• Cow’s milk
• Hen’s egg
• Soybeans
• Wheat
• Peanuts
• Fish
• Shellfish