Single and multiple food allergies in infants with proctocolitis

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
• Gastroenterology
• Immunology

Background:

• Food protein-induced allergic proctocolitis is a common cause of infant rectal bleeding.
• Characteristics of infants with multiple food allergies require further definition.

Purpose of the Study:

• Identify characteristics of infants diagnosed with proctocolitis.
• Compare infants with single versus multiple food allergies.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective evaluation of 132 infants diagnosed with proctocolitis.
• Data collected included clinical features, blood counts, skin prick tests, specific IgE, and stool/colonoscopy results.
• Diagnoses were confirmed by pediatric allergists/gastroenterologists.

Main Results:

• Cow's milk and egg were the most frequent allergens.
• 34.1% of infants had multiple food allergies.
• Infants with multiple food allergies exhibited higher eosinophil counts and more positive allergy test results (skin prick test/specific IgE).
• Persistent symptoms beyond age two were more common in infants with multiple food allergies.

Conclusions:

• Clinical presentation does not differentiate single from multiple food allergies in infants.
• Elevated blood eosinophil counts and positive allergy tests (skin prick test/specific IgE) are indicative of multiple food allergies in infants.
• Multiple food allergies are associated with persistent symptoms.