Food protein induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES)
What is FPIES?
-Food Protein Enterocolitis Syndrome, or FPIES, is a severe reaction to a food that typically occurs within the first 6 months of life. These babies can become very sick with repeated vomiting and sometimes diarrhea containing blood and mucus. As a result, babies can appear pale and sluggish. Symptoms can develop with a few minutes or up to 6 hours after eating or drinking the food that triggered these symptoms.
The more severe form occurs in 5% of these infants, requiring emergency hospital treatment with IV fluids. Blood pressure drops dangerously low and they may even turn blue. Epipens won't work in these very sick babies.
Unfortunately there are no tests to identify trigger foods. The only way to tell is to rule out infections and other problems present before determining if a certain food caused the reaction. If so, a supervised food challenge can be performed.
