Diagnosing and Managing Food Allergy-Induced Constipation in Young Children

Constipation is a common issue in young children, affecting up to 32.2% worldwide, making it challenging to recognise when it may be a symptom of a non-IgE-mediated food allergy. Recent research highlights that constipation can be a primary symptom in children with confirmed cow’s milk allergies, with studies showing that between 28% and 78% of these children experience significant improvement when cow’s milk is eliminated from their diet.

Despite these findings, current data on food allergy-induced constipation is limited, and most existing guidelines primarily address IgE-mediated allergies, often overlooking constipation as a potential symptom. However, guidelines specifically addressing cow’s milk allergies do acknowledge constipation as a related symptom.

Recognising the gap in existing research and guidelines, the Exploring Non-IgE-Mediated Allergy (ENIGMA) Task Force of the European Academy for Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) has undertaken a comprehensive review. The Task Force focused on children who do not respond to standard constipation treatments and proposes that food allergies, particularly to cow’s milk, should be considered as a possible cause.

Using a structured consensus method, the ENIGMA Task Force has developed recommendations for diagnosing and managing food allergy-induced constipation in children. These recommendations aim to provide clearer guidance for healthcare professionals in the absence of extensive current data.

To explore the proposed diagnostic and management strategies, you can access the full report here.