Adverse reactions to food can have a significant impact on your child’s physical, mental and behavioral health and overall quality of life. Dealing with food reactions — despite testing negative for common food allergies — can also be frustrating for families who may travel from doctor to doctor in search of answers.

The Food Reactions Clinic at CHOP offers an innovative approach to caring for children with food reactions others have been unable to explain or treat. We strive to provide your family with a clear diagnosis if one exists and a holistic approach to your child’s symptoms that ensures your child gets the balanced diet they need.

What we do

There are many children who test negative for common food allergies, yet still suffer from food-related health problems. Adverse food reactions can cause many different symptoms, including:

• Nausea
• Stomach pain
• Diarrhea
• Fatigue
• Skin rashes
• Hyperactivity
• Poor concentration
• Bloating
• Gas
• Constipation
• Headaches
• Hair loss
• Poor growth
• Poor performance in school

Our team is committed to helping your child and family feel heard and finding answers and an approach that best helps your child. We evaluate your child holistically, looking at test results as well an environment, lifestyle, diet and more, in order to provide clear guidance. We are willing to “think outside the box.”

Working together with your family, we will help you establish a balanced diet that eliminates the foods that are causing your child’s reaction, while reintroducing as many important nutrients as possible. 

Who we are

Our clinic brings together licensed and board-certified pediatric allergists, gastroenterologists, nutritionists and dietitians who work to evaluate your child and come up with a unified plan of care.

Research

Our team is currently engaged in research to identify biomarkers that provide evidence of a food reaction. We are also working to develop a clinical pathway that aids in diagnosis and treatment of children with food intolerances.