Food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES) is a rare food allergy that affects the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. FPIES primarily affects babies and young children, with symptoms that include severe vomiting, diarrhea and dehydration. It is most commonly triggered by cow’s milk, soy, rice and oats, but any food can cause FPIES symptoms.

FPIES can be difficult to diagnose, as the reactions may not show on standard allergy tests. Diagnosis is made based on the patient’s history of symptoms after eating specific foods.

Who we are

We are a team of physicians and medical experts with specialties in allergy, nutrition and gastrointestinal (GI) health.

What we do

At the FPIES Clinic, we meet with patients and families after reviewing medical records in advance. We examine your child and review your child’s history. We discuss with you what steps have already been taken to modify your child’s diet to reduce triggers and meet nutrient needs. In some cases, we will do additional diagnostic testing, including blood work, stool studies and X-rays to better understand your child’s health issues.

After reviewing all of your child’s health information, including information from tests and discussion during the visit, we make recommendations for ongoing food choices, therapy and treatment. This might include changes in diet, a referral to feeding therapy and guidance on how to respond to future food reactions. Because children typically outgrow FPIES in early childhood, we may recommend a supervised food challenge test at a future date to find out if a current food reaction continues to be a problem as your child grows older.

We work with you, as the parent, to help you understand how occurrences of vomiting and diarrhea can sometimes be mistaken for food reactions, and to help you avoid making unnecessary diet changes to symptoms that are not related to FPIES.
We also look for the possibility of co-existing conditions, such as eczema or asthma, and for the possibility that a different condition with similar symptoms may be causing your child’s health problems. When different conditions are diagnosed, we make referrals to appropriate specialists for treatment.

Who we treat

The Clinic is available to any child who has been diagnosed with or is suspected of having FPIES. The Clinic is open to patients whether or not they are already seen by a doctor within the CHOP system.

If you believe your child may benefit from the FPIES Clinic, please speak with your physician about a referral to the Clinic or contact us directly at 267-425-3335.