In children under 15 years eczema, gastrointestinal symptoms, rhinitis and nasal polyps, enuresis, and behavior problems were common. Older patients had more gastrointestinal symptoms, rhinitis, arthralgias, and migraine headaches. Chronic coughs may mean allergic bronchitis with or without asthma. Food allergy patients are often given antibiotics repeatedly, since allergic symptoms and infection symptoms are similar. Antibiotics may offer no benefits and may increase the risk of further allergic reactions.
Many patients report long-term deterioration after repeated or prolonged antibiotic use.
This apparent adverse effect of antibiotics has been blamed on yeast overgrowth in GIT, but the real reason is probably more complex. Patients with delayed pattern food allergy have the most severe and persistent inflammatory form of chronic asthma. The good news is that complete diet revision may allow remission of chronic symptoms. This assumption should lead to careful diet revision. Our patients usually have asthma with associated symptoms that suggest a whole-body food allergy problem.