[Adverse effects of a liberal diagnosis of 'food intolerance']

Signs and symptoms of food intolerance in young children are manifold and non-specific. When confronted with a patient with a sign or symptom that can be caused by food intolerance, the physician can take two approaches. One approach is aimed at not missing food intolerance (liberal approach), the other at not overdiagnosing food intolerance (restricted approach). Each approach has its own pros and cons. The main disadvantage of the restricted approach is that food intolerance may not be recognized straightaway. However, this is hardly ever harmful to the patient. The disadvantages of the liberal approach are more numerous and more serious. They include the excessive use of expensive hypoallergenic formulae, unjustified focus on food intolerance as the cause of numerous harmless and self-limiting symptoms in young children, increased risk of poor growth, and insufficient attention for any of the true cause of the patient's symptoms. Therefore, when confronted with a young child with signs and symptoms that could be caused by food intolerance, other causes should be considered prior to focusing on the food intolerance.