Food Protein-Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome (FPIES)
Food Protein-Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome (FPIES) is a rare disorder, mostly affecting infants (0-3 years) and young children (3-10 years), which occurs when foods that harm the gastrointestinal tract are taken. FPIES is an alarming condition in which its patients may be diagnosed with “failure to thrive”, although it is hardly life-threatening. It is caused by […] Read More
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Food Protein-Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome (FPIES)
- Chicken, turkey, and other poultry products
- Fish
- Breast milk (in rare cases), soymilk, cow milk, and other milk products.
- Rice, oats, barley, and other grains and cereals.
- Eggs
- Cheese
- Custard
- Sweet potatoes
- Peas
- Squash
- Vegetables
- What are your child’s/ward’s symptoms?
- Does your family have a history of allergies?
- Atopy Patch Testing
- Oral Food Challenge
- Removing the offending food allergens from your child’s diet. This can lead to the fading of the signs related to FPIES.
- Breastfeeding if your child is still an infant.
- The use of anti-inflammatory medications to calm the swelling of the gastrointestinal tract and some other symptoms.
- The administration of corticosteroids.
- Intravenous fluids to help severe dehydration.
- Parsnip
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Beetroot
- Spinach
- Tomato
- Zucchini
- Turnip
- Blueberries
- Strawberries
- Watermelon
- Plum
- Peach
- Apricot
- Quinoa
- Sorghum
- Millet
- Amaranth
- Buckwheat
- Rye
- Lamb
- Pork
- Tree nuts
- Seeds of appropriate texture
- Pumpkin
- Green beans
- White (Irish) potatoes
- Carrots
- Lentils
- Squash
- Mushroom
- Apple
- Pear
- Orange
- Avocado
- Melons such as rockmelon
- Wheat
- Maize (Corn)
- Barley
- Beef
- Peanut
- Chickpeas
- Sweet potato
- Green peas
- Banana; regarded as the most FPIES fruit.
- Oats
- Rice
- Turkey
- Chicken
- Fish and other seafood
- Eggs
- Soy
- Tofu
- Cheese
- Yogurt
- Custard
Symptoms
SYMPTOMS OF FOOD PROTEIN-INDUCED ENTEROCOLITIS SYNDROME (FPIES)
The signs and symptoms of food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome are often similar to a stomach bug, but there are some distinctive signs.
The symptoms of FPIES include:
- Nausea coupled with diarrhea
- Frequent throwing-up/vomiting
- Dehydration; excessive thirst
- Shallow breathing
- Fatigue, weakness, tiredness.
- Cold skin
- Pale skin
- Skin discoloration
- Weakened pulse
- Confusion
- Anxiety
- Shock and fainting
- Low/fluctuations in blood pressure.
- Fluctuations in body temperature.
- Loss of weight
- Undergrowth (over some time)
- Encephalitis lethargica; sleeping sickness.
- Low levels of oxygen in the blood
- Thrombocytopenias leading to blood clotting.
- Swelling of the abdomen.
Rare symptoms include:
- Atopic Dermatitis
This is a situation in which the skin develops a chronic inflammatory disorder. They come into being when one's immune system responds absurdly to environmental allergens, such as cigarettes and pollen.
- Allergic Rhinitis (Hay Fever)
This causes itchy, watery eyes, sneezing, and other signs. It occurs all year or seasonally (in some cases).
- Asthma
This happens when a person's airways are instructed making breathing a difficult task.
- Failure to Thrive
FTT is the inability to maintain growth, usually during childhood. Apart from stunted growth, it can cause:
- Poor sucking
- Hard feeding
- Weak crying
- Floppy muscles
- Poor physical movement
- Lack of vocal sounds
- Social disorders such as not smiling.
- Poor head shape.
- Poor mental skills.
Once you notice any of the above-mentioned signs, rush your child or ward to the hospital for diagnosis and treatment.
Causes
CAUSES OF FOOD PROTEIN-INDUCED ENTEROCOLITIS SYNDROME (FPIES)
You are likely to gain the disorder of FPIES if you eat allergens and if your body (via IgE) improperly responds to proteins in specific foods.
In 40% of cases of FPIES, patients are allergic to milk. As odd as it seems, rice is the most solid food associated with FPIES. In 70% of cases of food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome, patients have allergies to one or two foods and these foods trigger the reactions.
FAQ
How long does an FPIES episode last?
An FPIES episode usually begins with profuse vomiting, normally around 2 to 4 hours after ingesting the trigger foods. Then, it is often accompanied by diarrhea, sometimes bloody, lasting for several days. Severe hydration comes along in the process.
Do babies outgrow FPIES?
Yes. Fortunately, food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome foes do not last for life. Most children outgrow FPIES by ages 3 to 4.
Does FPIES run in families?
No. Food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome is not a hereditary disease but just a mere disorder that goes away after some minor management treatments or with age.
It mostly affects children (infants), after which it disappears. But in rare cases, FPIES develops in adolescents and adults as an allergic reaction to shellfish or any other seafood.
Can you have FPIES without vomiting?
It is almost impossible to get through an episode of food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome without throwing up. The early phase of FPIES is characterized by nausea.
Can pumpkins cause allergic reactions in babies?
Reactions can come up when eating pumpkins because some pumpkins tend to be itchy. However, there are no prior reactions to eating pumpkin.