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Allergic enteritis in children
Mieczysława Czerwionka-Szaflarska1, Ewa Łoś-Rycharska1, Julia Gawryjołek1
1Department of Paediatrics, Allergology, and Gastroenterology, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Poland.
Insights
Gastrointestinal food allergies are common in infants, often presenting as allergic proctocolitis with blood in stool. An elimination diet is the primary treatment, typically resolving symptoms within two weeks.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Gastroenterology
- Allergology
Background:
- Gastrointestinal food allergies are prevalent in infants, with allergic proctitis and proctocolitis being common presentations.
- Symptoms often manifest within the first two months of life, characterized by blood in stool, irritability, and feeding issues.
- Cow's milk proteins are the most frequent culprits triggering these allergic reactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of gastrointestinal food allergies in children.
- To highlight the diagnostic approach, including endoscopy and histopathology.
- To emphasize the efficacy of dietary interventions in managing allergic enteritis.
Main Methods:
- Clinical examination of infants presenting with gastrointestinal symptoms.
- Endoscopy of the lower digestive tract.
- Histopathological assessment of tissue samples.
- Dietary elimination as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool.
Main Results:
- Allergic proctitis and proctocolitis are common, often resolving within two months.
- Symptoms include blood in stool, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and impaired growth.
- Cow's milk protein allergy is a leading cause.
- An elimination diet leads to symptom resolution within 1-2 weeks.
Conclusions:
- Gastrointestinal food allergy is a significant pediatric concern requiring prompt diagnosis.
- Clinical evaluation combined with lower digestive tract endoscopy and biopsy aids diagnosis.
- Dietary elimination is the cornerstone of treatment for allergic enteritis, offering rapid symptom relief.
Abstract:
The gastrointestinal form of food allergy is very common in children. The most frequently observed types are allergic proctitis and proctocolitis. In most cases the symptoms subside within the first 2 months of life. The babies seem healthy, and the only abnormality is a small amount of blood in stool. Symptoms can also include small intestine inflammation and colitis. Patients may present with irritability, abdominal pain, flatulence, colic, postprandial vomiting, chronic diarrhoea, and hindered physical development. The diagnosis of allergic enteritis is based on the clinical examination and the results of additional tests including an endoscopy of the lower digestive tract with histopathological assessment. Cow's milk proteins are the most common nutrition proteins responsible for the development of the symptoms of allergic enteritis. The most essential method of treating allergic enteritis is the elimination diet. The symptoms should subside within 1-2 weeks from the beginning of the diet.
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