New Insights in Pediatric Gastrointestinal Food Allergies

Food allergies are one of the most common chronic diseases in the pediatric population and gastrointestinal manifestations affect up to 50% of patients. Although IgE mediated forms of food allergy may occur with gastrointestinal symptoms, non-IgE and mixed forms are primarily characterized by gut involvement. Due to both the delayed onset after ingestion of a particular food and the symptom overlap with other common pediatric diseases (e.g., infections, functional bowel disorders, food intolerances, etc.),gastrointestinal food allergies in children can be difficult to recognize. Many patients experience diagnostic delays with consequent inappropriate management and treatment. Moreover, recent evidence has highlighted an increased risk to develop other immune (i.e., atopic march) and non-immune (i.e., functional gastrointestinal disorders) mediated diseases later in the life in children affected by gastrointestinal food allergies.

This Research Topic aims to provide and discuss the most recent evidence for pediatric gastrointestinal food allergies. Starting from the still largely undefined pathophysiology to the clinical manifestations and modern management and the risk of developing other immune and non-immune diseases, pediatric gastrointestinal food allergies represent a fascinating challenge to discuss.

We welcome all article types accepted by the Food Allergy section of Frontiers in Allergy including, but not limited to, the following sub-topics:

• Physiopathology of gastrointestinal food allergies in the pediatric population: the role of the gut barrier and microbiome
• Gastrointestinal motility disorders and food allergies in the pediatric population
• Food allergies as the cause or the consequences of pediatric eosinophilic esophagitis
• Pediatric gastrointestinal food allergies and atopic march
• Pediatric gastrointestinal food allergies as risk factors for functional gastrointestinal disorders

Conflict of interest declaration: Dr. Neil Shah has/ previously had a scientific advisory paid role to mead Johnson / Reckitt Nutrition institute.

Keywords: Eosinophilic esophagitis, FPIES, allergic proctocolitis, food protein induced motility disorders, food protein induced enteropathy, eosinophilic gastroenteritis, atopic march, functional gastrointestinal disorders, food allergy, pediatric, children

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.