What is FPIES?

FPIES is a severe delayed food allergy of the gut, it is understood to be a T-cell mediated response, a Non-IgE Food Allergy in which food is considered a foreign invader and the body fights, or attacks it, until it can violently expel it; although the exact mechanisms are still not well understood.

Symptoms include: profound vomiting (often to bile), diarrhea and/or constipation. These symptoms can quickly lead to: lethargy, low body temperature, low blood pressure and in severe cases, sepsis-like shock. And still yet, many parents report children also experiencing many discomforting symptoms while the body fights this reaction and these can include: extreme stomach pains, excessive gas, runny stools with or without mucus/blood, acid reflux, rashes/eczema, sleep disturbance, and agitation/inconsolable crying.

FPIES is a clinical diagnosis (based on symptoms and history) there is currently no test for it.

This is my definition of FPIES, defined by my own research in: medical journal articles, other families living through FPIES I 'meet' on the support groups and, of course, my own son. You can learn more about my research in FPIES here on this blog, and at The FPIES Foundation website.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Shock Symptoms & ER letter

The research articles report 20% of FPIES kids experience full shock. 

Shock is very serious, and any symptoms of reactions should be discussed and outlined with your child's doctor.  

Shock in FPIES kids can be obvious but there are also symptoms of late-shock that can be confusing but remain very serious and concerning.   It is beneficial for your child to have an ER letter (click here for sample) for treatments, that outlines the need for IV hydration and montioring following a reaction.  

I found this article on Pediatic Shock to be very educational.  I, personally, have had to learn from my son's reactions as I didnt' recognize his body going into shock, because he hasn't gone into immediate shock but does go into late-shock.

The shock and dehydration is not necessarily proportionate to the volume depleted (my son took in 70oz. the days following a vomiting reaction and he still had dehyration when checked 3days later!).   Every child is different and all reactions should be taken seriously, and assessed carefully.

This is another area where more research would benefit.   The dehydration and shock can come from the capilary leakage that happens from the inflammatory response actions.   For further reading::  Complement activation in relation to capillary leakage in Children with septic shock and purpura.    It does not address FPIES specifically but sheds some light on the activations of the inflammatory process.

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