Families With Food Allergies

There has been quite a bit of confusion among parents and sometimes physicians about the difference between allergy and intolerance, i.e. sensitivity.
Allergies are primarily defined as an abnormal response to a protein by the body, induced by the body’s creation of IgE. Therefore, if one can detect IgE in the body to a specific protein, by definition this is an allergy. The finding of IgE can be done by skin testing, intradermal testing or by laboratory analysis. The nature of this response to this antigen is defined by the patient’s history and/or food challenge.
Intolerances are the body’s inability to digest or metabolize a sugar. The classic intolerances are lactose, fructose and glucose intolerance. The patient lacks a particular enzyme for the digestion of this sugar. The sugar is left in the gut undigested. This undigested sugar then becomes fodder for the bacteria in the gut. The bacteria’s metabolism in the sugar causes bloating, diarrhea and abdominal pain.
On most occasions food allergies can be outgrown over time, especially when they occur in the very young. Some are more difficult to eradicate, i.e. peanuts. Some may be permanent. Intolerances are typically noted to be permanent. Patients with intolerances may be able to digest small bits of the carbohydrate. Larger doses of a carbohydrate may cause symptoms.

Dr. Robert W. Hostoffer, D.O.
Allergy/Immunology Associates Inc

Published on: 2008-09-03 14:17:41 (840 reads)