Delayed type food allergy

• The reason delayed type food allergy has this name is because symptoms occur only hours to days after eating the offending food. Because of this, it is often much more difficult to associate with a certain food
• Symptoms of delayed type food allergy commonly involve the gullet, stomach or bowels
• A form in the gullet (eosinophilic oesophagitis) causes difficult or slow eating, reflux, food refusal, slow growth or a feeling of food stuck in the throat
• A form in the bowels (eosinophilic enteropathy) causes abdominal pain, slow growth and diarrhea. A severe form in the bowels (food protein induced enterocolitis / FPIES) causes severe diarrhea and shock
• A form in the lower intestine causes blood in the stools

Delayed food allergy can make eczema worse, however food allergy is only rarely a trigger for eczema on its own. It is controversial whether there is any link between food allergy and migraine, the tension, fatigue syndrome and hyperactivity. Foods (such aschocolate, red wine, yeast extracts and hard cheeses) can trigger migraine through a non-allergic food intolerance.

Delayed type food allergies are most commonly to cow’s milk and soya, but can occur to many other solid foods.

• If a reaction occurs every time a food is eaten it is more likely to be a true food allergy
• In delayed allergy, because of the long delay between eating the food and having symptoms it is much more difficult to pinpoint whether the food causes an allergy every time it is eaten. For this reason a food diary is recommended
• In a food diary, every food that is eaten is written down (in detail with all ingredients) and reactions also written down, so that a doctor or dietician can look at the diary and see whether a specific food might be related to reactions
• This is especially helpful where one foods exist as a “hidden ingredient” within other foods

Unlike immediate type (IgE mediated) allergies, where skin prick tests and/or blood tests (which detect IgE antibodies to various foods in the blood) may be useful, there are no useful laboratory tests for a delayed type food allergy.

The diagnosis of delayed type allergies relies on stopping to eat that food for a few weeks. If symptoms go away it is then critical to reintroduce that food to prove that symptoms come back.

The reason that a reintroduction challenge must be performed is because the symptoms of delayed type food allergies come and go, and it may be coincidence that symptoms happened to get better when a food was removed.

This is NOT the same as a food challenge test done for immediate type reactions. Because there is no risk of an immediate severe reaction, it can be just reintroduction of a normal portion of the food, and does not need to be done under special conditions.

Remember that “elimination-challenge testing” is not done lightly! Avoiding any food, even for a short time may be difficult, expensive and lead to minor or major nutrition issues. It is always important to have a dietician trained in allergies to guide the process, and this is mandatory when more than one food is involved.

In some types of delayed food allergy a biopsy specimen of the gut may be required.

There is absolutely no evidence that ALCAT, Vega testing, pulse testing or kinesiology are of any benefit in diagnosing food allergy. People who use these tests may spend a lot of money to receive an incorrect list of foods to avoid and risk their nutrition.

At the moment, there is no “cure” for food allergies. People with an allergy need to avoid that particular food (or foods). They must read all food labels and understand the scientific words for the foods in case they are not labelled clearly.

At the same time it is essential to provide a balanced diet with enough protein, energy, minerals and vitamins. A qualified dietician may be able to guide the patient on how to ensure this.

Unlike immediate type food allergy, delayed food allergy cannot cause a severe anaphylactic reaction. However symptoms may vary from mild to very severe. The severity of the symptoms will determine whether the person should wear a medic alert bracelet and have an action plan. Antihistamines and adrenaline is not the correct treatment for a delayed type reaction … an individualised plan should be drawn up by the doctor.

Occasionally if the recommended diet is not providing adequate symptom relief, medication may have to be added. The medication depends on the major symptoms and underlying condition.

Different types of delayed food allergy have different outlooks. Some resolve quickly and have little long-term impact, others can be controlled with diet or medication, and still others can be extremely troublesome with little relief.

It is important for the allergic patient to be monitored regularly by a doctor who has specialist training in allergies.

This will allow them to check whether the patient is able to follow the diet correctly and whether the diet is adequate for their nutritional needs. If the doctor feels there is a chance that the allergy has been outgrown after a long period of avoidance, it is important to reintroduce the food carefully. An immediate type food allergy may develop when that food has not been eaten for a long period. The first time that food is eaten must be as part of a controlled food challenge done in a clinic or hospital with the same protocol used for immediate type food reactions (See food challenge tests).

There are different types of non-immune reactions to food.

Some people with food intolerance will tolerate small amounts of a certain food, only to become symptomatic if they have too much of it, for example wheat in people with irritable bowel syndrome.

Some people may lack the enzymes to digest certain foods. The commonest example is lactose intolerance where the “lactase” enzyme used to break down milk sugar lactose is missing. This causes cramping and diarrhoea after eating dairy products.

Non-allergic food intolerance may also be caused by preservatives, flavouring agents such as monosodium glutamate (MSG), colouring agents such as tartrazine and preservatives such as sulphur dioxide and benzoates.