Gastrointestinal Allergy

Abstract

Food allergy was noted as early as 95 B.C. Hippocrates observed, “cheese is not well tolerated by all men,” and Lucretius wrote, “one man’s food is another man’s poison.” Since that early date numerous investigators have commented upon the manifestations of allergy as related to the gastrointestinal tract. Only recently, however, has the frequency with which this association occurs been fully appreciated. In 1934, Andresen¹ reported 544 cases with gastrointestinal symptoms, 25.7 per cent of which were due to food allergy. Others do not agree with this high incidence.

Gastrointestinal allergy usually is a manifestation of food or drug hypersensitivity. Oral pollen extracts also may cause gastrointestinal symptoms. The clinical picture is variable and persons of any age may be affected. It may occur alone or in combination with other allergic manifestations or other organic pathology.

Rowe² lists numerous symptoms of allergic reactions in the gastrointestinal tract, such as canker sores, distention, belching, epigastric heaviness, sour stomach, pyrosis, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, mucous colitis, constipation, “gas in the bowels,” pruritis ani, pain and soreness in various sections of the abdomen, and general symptoms of instability, fatigue, and nervousness. As the symptoms are variable, a definite or characteristic clinical picture not always is observed. The indefinite symptomatology makes the diagnosis more difficult. Any of the various portions of the gastrointestinal tract may be involved and the symptoms may simulate certain acute surgical conditions. When subjected to surgery, patients with gastrointestinal allergy usually demonstrate no definite pathology. However, Osier³ found local areas of. . .