Food Sensitivity

Abstract

One of the most common problems brought to the attention of today's pediatrician is the question of a possible association between ingestion of a particular food and symptoms experienced by a child. Publications to which parents have ready access, including newspapers, are replete with reports of various adverse reactions to foods in children (commonly called "allergy"). Because the pediatrician is considered by parents to be an authority on health matters, he is often requested to comment on reports that parents have read. This is a difficult task because often the reports are based on comments made at meetings that are not available in print for the pediatrician to analyze critically. Even if there is a written report, it may be difficult for the pediatrician to spend the time required to help parents become critical readers of lay publications. This review considers the topic of food sensitivity, including the basic principles