Food allergies in children

Ingested food represents the greatest foreign antigenic load that confronts the human immune system. In most individuals tolerance develops to food antigens that are continually gaining access to the body. When tolerance fails to develop, the immune system may react with a hypersensitivity reaction. Allergies to food affect up to 8% of children less than 3 years of age and 1% to 2% of the general population. Symptoms include the gastrointestinal, cutaneous, and respiratory symptoms, as well as systemic anaphylaxis with shock. Clinical investigations in the past have characterized the food hypersensitivity disorders, but our understanding of the basic immunopathologic mechanism remains incomplete. Current progress in allergen characterization and the rigorous scientific methods now being applied to this field by many investigators provide hope that new information regarding the pathogenesis of these disorders and new forms of therapy will soon become available. For now, practicing physicians must carefully diagnose specific food sensitivities and educate patients and their families in the elimination of the responsible food allergen.