Here at Neocate, we get lots of questions about diapers. I mean lots! Many questions relate to constipation or diarrhea. We’ve posted about constipation in the past, but I thought it would be helpful to pull together our past comments on diarrhea, as well as provide some more medical information on the topic courtesy of the National Institutes of Health, or NIH.

Defining “Diarrhea”

Simply defined, diarrhea is loose, watery stools. It also means having these loose stools three or more times a day. There are more specific guidelines, but most people know diarrhea when they see it. Diarrhea happens to everyone, usually about once a year for adults and twice a year for young children.

Typically, diarrhea is acute, meaning that it lasts one or two days and then goes away. This type of diarrhea is typically caused by an infection. If diarrhea lasts more than two days, it can be something more serious. Diarrhea lasting more than two to four weeks – chronic diarrhea – may be a symptom of a chronic disease or condition.

The concern with diarrhea, especially when it lasts more than two days, is a risk of dehydration. Our bodies absorb most of the water and some minerals at the end of our digestive tract. When we have diarrhea we can’t absorb those things, leading to dehydration, which can be serious.

Diarrhea in Infants

New parents quickly become experts at several things, one of which is changing diapers. Since infants go through about eight diapers a day, parents easily pick up on anything abnormal. Every baby’s stools are different in terms of how watery they are, which makes defining diarrhea in infants difficult. To keep it simple, diarrhea is typically a sudden onset of frequent bowel movements that are more watery than usual.

The risk of dehydration from diarrhea is much higher in children than most adults, and especially in infants. Since infants can’t tell us what they’re feeling, it’s important to keep an eye out for signs of dehydration. With children and infants, you shouldn’t hesitate to call their healthcare provider if you have concerns. For infants under 4 months, the recommendation is that you contact the doctor at the first sign of diarrhea or dehydration.

Diarrhea and Food Allergies

Pulling this all together, diarrhea is one of the top signs of a food allergy, especially for infants. In infants with food allergies, diarrhea often lasts more than just a few days and may even be combined with other symptoms. It’s not uncommon to also see blood or mucus in the stool. Diarrhea can also result from lactose intolerance, which is not as severe as a food allergy, but which may also require a change in diet.

Like we hear from many Neocate parents, diarrhea is often one of the first signs to clear up after they start using Neocate. This is because Neocate doesn’t contain any lactose (or any dairy at all!) or whole proteins. These substances would normally cause a reaction in the body that leads to poor absorption and diarrhea. Infants are able to absorb the nutrients they need from Neocate without the bad reaction that often results in diarrhea. Most parents tell us that the switch to Neocate has meant more solid stools and many fewer diapers.

- Rob

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In food allergy circles, we usually think of symptoms and side effects as results of food allergies, not the other way around. In most cases that’s true. Science has shown a strong link between food allergy and atopic dermatitis, a form of eczema. Last month Dr. Jon Hanifin, a respected dermatologist, gave a talk to colleagues discussing the link between atopic dermatitis and food allergies. The research he presented suggests that for some patients it may actually be atopic dermatitis that comes first and acts as a precursor to food allergies.

Atopic dermatitis is often one of the first signs that a parent or caregiver notices in their child which helps lead to the diagnosis of food allergy. As Dr. Hanifin explained, about 6-10% of children are diagnosed with atopic dermatitis, and of those about a third will be diagnosed with a food allergy. Which begs the question: If parents notice signs of atopic dermatitis first, and an allergy diagnosis comes later, couldn’t atopic dermatitis be causing some instances of food allergy?

What We Know:

-In cases of food allergy, offending foods cause reactions in the body which involve the immune system

-Immunoglobulin E antibodies (IgE) are immune substances which are normally in our bodies at low levels, but are higher with food allergy

-Allergy symptoms often involve the skin (including our digestive tract, which is like an inside skin), an important barrier that keeps most outside “things” from getting inside

-One factor of atopic dermatitis is “holes” in the barrier our skin provides

What Dr. Hanifin Proposed:

In the past it was assumed that food allergies came first, causing both high IgE levels and atopic dermatitis. Dr. Hanifin suggested that in some patients atopic dermatitis is caused by “gaps” in the skin (likely due to genetics), which means that foreign substances can enter the skin and cause adverse reactions. He thinks it may be proteins that get through these gaps which allows the body to become sensitive to certain foods, leading to a food allergy.

What does all of this mean? The biggest message here is that patients with atopic dermatitis, especially those under five years, should be tested for food allergies. While avoiding food allergens may not help improve atopic dermatitis, it could certainly prevent or improve other serious side effects of allergies. The second message is that more research needs to be done into the causes of atopic dermatitis and its relationship to food allergies. Any research that leads to better health, through reducing instances of atopic dermatitis and/or food allergies, is good research! Tell us about your experience: Was atopic dermatitis the first sign that you saw of your child’s food allergy?

- Rob

Anyone who has eaten something and then experiences an unpleasant reaction has probably wondered if they have a food allergy. In fact, one out of three individuals thinks they may have a food allergy or may modify their diet due to a suspicion. Occuring to AAAAI statistics, yet only around 6% of children under the age of three are affected by food allergies, but most out grow these allergies as adults.

What all of this adds up to is that food allergies and food intolerances can be easily confused with each other. Yet these conditions are different in terms of their origin, symptoms and treatment. So what are the differences between the two?

What Are Food Allergies?

Let’s start with the more severe of the two: food allergies. Food allergies occur when the body’s immune system identifies a food as a harmful substance. When the body recognizes anything harmful it will produce antibodies, which are like small soldiers that protect our body’s health. When the body produces antibodies directed against a certain type of food, it causes an immune response. This then releases histamine and other chemicals that trigger allergic symptoms. These allergic symptoms are ‘red alerts’, which tell us that something is wrong.

Generally, it is the protein in foods that cause an allergic reaction. Food allergy symptoms may occur right after consuming the allergen or even hours later. These symptoms may affect the respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular system or the skin. In cases of severe allergic reactions there may be a drop in blood pressure or loss of consciousness. Some people have food allergies so severe that they are at risk for life threatening reactions known as anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is a rapid series of serious allergic reactions that affect a number of different areas of the body at once. Fortunately, this can be treated with the prescription drug epinephrine, which is available on-the-go in a pen size injector – also known as an Epi-Pen.

Common food allergy symptoms include:

• Skin rash or hives;
• Swelling of the tongue and throat;
• Breathing problems including asthma;
• Vomiting and/or diarrhea; and
• Abdominal pain and cramping.

Currently, there are no medications that cure food allergies, so it is necessary for children and adults with food allergies to avoid allergenic foods. It is critical to review food labels and ask questions about ingredients in recipes before consuming any foods. The Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004

What Is A Food Intolerances?

Food intolerance is the inability to properly digest or fully process certain foods. This does not involve an immune response, but is still an adverse food-induced reaction that can cause uncomfortable symptoms similar to a food allergy. For example, lactose intolerance is caused when a person lacks an enzyme called lactase that breaks down the milk sugar called lactose. This can cause gas, bloating and abdominal pain when consuming milk products. Fortunately, lactase tablets are available without a prescription to help treat this food intolerance.

Because the symptoms of food allergies and intolerances are often similar, it is helpful to get tested by an allergist and keep a food diary. A food diary keeps track of which foods are eaten and at what time, which can help determine if they are causing the symptoms of an intolerance or allergy. This will help the allergist to distinguish the correct diagnosis and treatment. Allergists can also conduct a skin test or blood test to determine if an individual is allergic to a specific food. How did you determine if you or your child had a food allergy or food intolerance? Did you find allergy testing to be reliable, or was keeping a food diary more helpful?

- Reneé

During one of our regularly scheduled blog editorial meetings, we realized we’ve been blogging for a long time – close to 4 years! That’s a lot of information for parents who are new to food allergies to process. We thought it would be helpful to group some of our more helpful blog posts by topic and share the links with you.

Check out some of these blog posts to learn more about the many signs and symptoms that can accompany food allergies.

Allergy Symptoms

Milk Protein Allergy Symptoms: Nothing To Sneeze At– A list of common milk protein allergy symptoms.

8 Signs of a Milk Allergy– This information is more specific to infants.

Baby Rashes (When is it a milk allergy?)

All About Diarrhea– Information about diarrhea in general and how it relates to allergies.

Signs of Anaphylaxis– Anaphylaxis is the most severe allergic reaction.

Allergy Basics

Testing for Allergies: Which Allergy Test is the Best?

Food Allergies vs. Food Intolerances: What’s the Difference?

Can Your Child Outgrow a Food or Milk Allergy?

6 Tips: Food Allergies & Introducing Solid Foods Into Your Baby’s Diet

Tips for Teaching Your Children to Manage Their Own Food Allergies

What does Hypoallergenic Mean?

All About Nutricia

Hydrolysate Formulas vs. Amino Acid-Based Formulas– Learn what makes Neocate Infant and Neocate Junior so special.

Neocate Nutra – The First Hypoallergenic Semi-Solid Medical Food

Introducing Neocate Junior with Prebiotics!

Food Allergies and Multivitamins: Are Phlexy Vits Appropriate For Your Child?

Fight Flavor Fatigue with New Neocate Flavor Straws

“100% Milk-Free Environment”– One of the many reasons Neocate is so great!

Allergy-Friendly Recipes

Milk-Free Recipes– A collection of our recipe blog entries.

The Neocate Food Allergy Cookbook – Allergy-Friendly Recipes for Your Family

Stuck in a Recipe Rut?

Resources

Food Allergy News Roundup– A good place to start.

Kids with Food Allergies Introduces a Free Starter Guide for Parenting a Child with Food Allergies

Dealing with a New Diagnosis of Food Allergy

Food Allergy Parents and Advocates Share Their Stories– Stories from parents like you!

Food Allergy Support Groups– Websites many Neocate families find helpful.

Children’s Magic: an Insurance Reimbursement Resource

Are there any of our blogs that you have found especially helpful in getting you over the food allergy learning curve? Please share them in the comment section of this blog post.

- Rob