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Feeding difficulties in children with food protein‐induced gastrointestinal allergies
Author(s) -
Meyer Rosan,
Rommel Nathalie,
Van Oudenhove Lukas,
Fleming Catharine,
Dziubak Robert,
Shah Neil
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of gastroenterology and hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.214
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1440-1746
pISSN - 0815-9319
DOI - 10.1111/jgh.12593
Subject(s) - medicine , constipation , vomiting , bloating , pediatrics , observational study , defecation , medical record , elimination diet , retrospective cohort study , abdominal pain , gastroenterology , allergy , food allergy , immunology
Abstract Background and Aim There is paucity of data on the prevalence of feeding difficulties in F ood P rotein‐ I nduced G astrointestinal A llergies ( FPIGA ) and their clinical characteristics. However, it is a commonly reported problem by clinicians. We set out to establish the occurrence of feeding difficulties in children with FPIGA , the association with gastrointestinal and extra‐intestinal symptoms and number of foods eliminated from the diet. Methods This retrospective observational analysis was performed in patients seen between 2002 and 2009 at G reat O rmond S treet C hildren's H ospital, G astroenterology D epartment, L ondon. Medical records where FPIGA was documented using the terms from the N ational I nstitute of A llergy and I nfectious D isease and N ational I nstitute of C linical E xcellence and confirmed using an elimination diet, followed by a challenge were included. Feeding difficulties were assessed using a criteria previously used in healthy toddlers in the UK . Results Data from 437 children (203 female) were collected. Significantly more children with feeding difficulties presented with abdominal distention and bloating ( P = 0.002), vomiting ( P < 0.0001), weight loss ( P < 0.0001), rectal bleeding ( P = 0.025), and constipation ( P < 0.0001). We also found that having extra‐intestinal manifestations were significantly ( P < 0.0001) associated with the presence of feeding difficulties. Additionally, a significantly higher number of foods eliminated from the diet in the children with/without feeding difficulties ( P = 0.028). Conclusions Clinical manifestations like vomiting, constipation, rectal bleeding, weight loss, and the presence of extra‐intestinal manifestations in addition to the number of foods avoided are in our FPIGA population linked to feeding difficulties.