Isolated rice intolerance: clinical and immunologic characteristics in four infants

We describe four infants with rice intolerance who had no hypersensitivity to other foods. Clinical manifestations included shock, vomiting, and diarrhea. Results of tests for occult blood in stools were positive in all cases; results of all immunologic tests were negative. No symptoms were observed during 6 weeks of a diet free of rice and flour. Successive double-blind challenges caused severe shock in three of the four infants. In addition, we observed histologic alterations in the intestinal mucosa after challenge.