What is Food Intolerance?
Food intolerance is an abnormal physiological response to food that does not involve an actual allergy.
What are some symptoms of food intolerance?
It can be difficult to determine the offending food causing an intolerant reaction, because if the immune system is involved, the response is likely to be GI-mediated and takes place slowly. Symptoms of food intolerance vary greatly and can be mistaken for the symptoms of a food allergy. Symptoms can affect the skin, respiratory tract, and gastrointestinal tract (GIT), either individually or in combination. Symptoms on the skin may include skin rashes, urticaria (hives), angioedema, dermatitis, eczema. Respiratory tract symptoms can include nasal congestion, sinusitis, pharyngeal irritations, asthma, and an unproductive cough. GIT symptoms include mouth ulcers, abdominal cramp, nausea, gas, intermittent diarrhea, constipation, and irritable bowel syndrome.
How can I help treat my child’s food intolerance?
The prognosis of children diagnosed with food intolerance is good. Patients normally respond to specialized diets eliminating specific food proteins.
Our Approach at North Shore Pediatric Therapy
Our dietitians work with your healthcare team to identify foods that may be causing problems. We start with a basic diet for your child that includes all food groups and teach you how to choose foods that meet your child’s nutritional needs. Food elimination diets are also used to exclude food proteins likely to cause reactions. These elimination diets are not everyday diets but are intended to isolate problem food proteins. Once all food intolerances have been identified, our dietitians can prescribe an appropriate diet for the individual to avoid foods with those proteins that cause the intolerances. We also provide lists of suitable foods that are available from various restaurants and local grocery stores. We will ensure adequate nutrition is achieved with safe and healthy foods!