Key Points
Food allergies are underestimated and need to be differentiated from food intolerance.
Foods that are commonly associated with allergies are cow milk, eggs, peanuts, soy, tree nuts, fish (including shellfish), and wheat.
Forty percent to 50% of newborns and infants with cow milk protein allergy (CMPA) may also have soy protein allergy.
Food allergies could be immunoglobulin E (IgE) mediated, T-cell mediated, or both IgE and T-cell mediated.
Food allergies have varied clinical manifestations.
Diagnosis of food allergies is established by detailed history, elimination of suspected allergic food, rechallenging, peripheral eosinophilia, elevated IgE levels, allergen-specific IgE level, skin prick test, endoscopy, and biopsy.
Newborns and infants with cow milk protein allergy can be treated with hydrolyzed or amino acid–based formulas.
It may be reasonable to manage children with food allergies in collaboration with a gastroenterologist, allergist, and nutritionist.
