Facts about food protein induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES)
Like other food allergies, FPIES reactions are triggered by eating a particular food or beverage.
Common FPIES triggers:
- The most common triggers are milk (67%) and soy (41%) followed by grains (19% rice, 16% oat, 10% wheat, 8% corn) and eggs (11%).
- 80% react to either milk or soy (or formulas that contain them)
- 43% of infants with a milk trigger also react to soy.
- 42% of babies with a grain trigger react to 2 or more grains.
- 24% with milk and soy react to one or more grains.
- Reactions to meat, fruits and vegetables occur but it is less common. Chicken, turkey, bananas, sweet potato and peas are the most common triggers from these groups.
- 70% of those with FPIES react to 1 or 2 foods.
- 30% react to 3 or more foods.
- 5% react to 6 or more foods.
- These reactions can happen when these foods pass through breast milk
- 20% also have classical (IgE) sensitivity based on positive skin tests.
When is FPIES outgrown?
- Milk and soy triggered FPIES is typically outgrown by 18 mo
- Fish and egg triggered FPIES is typically outgrown by 53 mo
- Wait 18 mo after the last reaction to try any trigger food again
This should be supervised or at least directed by an experienced physician
Age of complete FPIES resolution:
- 35% by 2 yo
- 70% by 3 yo
- 80% by 4 yo
- 85% by 5 yo
