Food sensitive enteropathy: overview and update

There are two types of food sensitive enteropathy; permanent and temporary. Celiac disease belongs to the former, the temporary food sensitive enteropathies of early childhood to the latter. A food sensitive enteropathy is characterized by an abnormal small intestinal mucosa while having the offending food in the diet; the abnormality is reversed by an elimination diet, only to recur once more on challenge with the relevant food. These disorders are temporary and may follow gastroenteritis. Cow's milk sensitive enteropathy is the most frequent and best known example but soy protein, egg, fish, chicken meat, ground rice and probably gluten may also temporarily damage the small intestinal mucosa in infancy. Treatment is with an elimination diet and protein hydrolysates as a cow's milk substitute. The reason why these enteropathies are temporary has not yet been established.