Becoming Familiar with FPIES

Besides being Columbus Day, today is Global Food Protein-Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome (FPIES) Day, which falls on October 14 every year. FPIES is a rare kind of food allergy that occurs mainly in young children. Taking place two or more hours after eating a certain food, symptoms include excessive vomiting and diarrhea with the possibility of going into shock. Medical attention, including an IV of fluids, is needed when this happens. The foods that most commonly cause these reactions are cow's milk protein formula, rice, and oats. Most children outgrow FPIES by age three. Because it is different from an Immunoglobulin E (IgE) food allergy resulting from the production of antibodies, FPIES is harder to detect. The best test for FPIES is an oral food challenge in which the child attempts to eat food in a clinical setting to determine if it causes a bad reaction. For more information, go to http://fpiesfoundation.org/.

The FPIES Foundation logo

(image via fpiesfoundation.org)