Allergic colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease in young children caused by an intolerance to certain proteins in breast milk or formula. Symptoms include loose bowel movements with traces of blood, but can be treated by eliminating the offending protein from the diet. The condition tends to appear before the second month of life and can last up to a year. Most children who recover experience no lasting complications.
Allergic colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease usually seen in very young children. It is related to an intolerance to certain proteins found in breast milk and over-the-counter formulas. In most cases, allergic colitis is mild, and children don’t experience many obvious symptoms. Severe allergies, however, can cause rectal bleeding, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and failure to thrive. The condition can usually be corrected by eliminating the offending protein from the mother’s diet or by switching to a different type of formula.
The exact causes of allergic colitis aren’t always clear, but doctors believe the problems are related to abnormal immune system responses. When the gut is unable to break down and digest certain proteins, the immune system mistakes them for harmful pathogens and triggers inflammation. Premature babies and children who are malnourished are at a higher risk of developing colitis as their intestines may not be fully developed. The condition tends to appear before the second month of life and can last up to a year.
The most common symptom of allergic colitis is loose bowel movements that have traces of blood. Many babies have no other symptoms and are able to continue feeding normally. In severe cases, children may have bloody diarrhea, nausea, and irritability. They may stop accepting food due to loss of appetite and show subsequent signs of malnutrition. Rarely, blood loss in the stool is severe enough to cause anemia.
A pediatrician can usually diagnose allergic colitis based on the presentation of symptoms. Blood and stool samples may be collected and tested to rule out other possible causes of symptoms, such as bacterial or parasitic infections. If you have severe allergic colitis, your doctor may want to conduct a colonoscopy to closely inspect the damaged tissue in your large intestine.
Allergic colitis does not normally respond to direct treatment. It is possible, however, to relieve symptoms and prevent serious episodes simply by removing milk protein from your child’s diet. A doctor can try a food challenge to determine which breast milk proteins are involved. A mother is asked to eliminate certain foods, such as cow’s milk, eggs, wheat and fish, from her diet to see if her baby’s symptoms improve. If a baby is using formula, parents can try switching to a soy blend or a specialized hypoallergenic formula to see if symptoms improve.
Most children who recover from allergic colitis experience no lasting complications. Symptoms tend to improve quickly after cutting out milk protein, and children start eating better and developing on schedule. As children and adults, previous sufferers can usually consume dairy products on a regular basis without problems.
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