2017 Volume 31 Issue 1 Pages 1-6
Gastrointestinal food allergy is a type of food allergy in which gastrointestinal symptoms are caused by non-IgE mediated allergic reactions. Various phenotypes have been reported, based on clinical symptoms, and differences have been observed in phenotypes between the population of Japan and populations outside Japan.
Three classifications of non-IgE mediated gastrointestinal food allergy are used to categorize allergy types outside Japan. Food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome is characterized by vomiting and diarrhea. Food protein-induced proctocolitis is characterized by bloody stools as the main symptom. Food protein-induced enteropathy presents with chronic diarrhea, failure to gain weight, and malabsorption. Although peripheral eosinophilia is not listed as one of these phenotypes, there are many cases of peripheral eosinophilia, and cases of eosinophilic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract in Japan. These conditions share common symptoms with eosinophilic gastrointestinal disease. We believe that eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders are classified separately from gastrointestinal food allergies outside of Japan, in comparison to how they are classified in Japan.
