[Local immunological phenomena in the digestive system of the child and food allergy]

Over the last few years food allergies have become a clinical problem of prime importance in children. It is clear that food allergy is most frequent in infants. Food macromolecules are absorbed at every age, but most evidently during the first months of life. Many facts show that the barrier of the gastro-intestinal tract against harmful agents present in the intestinal lumen is not completely developed in infants and especially in newborns. Deficiencies in the secretory system for TgA contribute to greater permeability of the intestine for allergenic macromolecules in early childhood.