This is a real case.
The baby was exclusively breastfed before 6 months of age, and bloody stools appeared at the age of 1-2 months (considered to be caused by food allergy). Because the mother wanted to persist in breastfeeding, and the child’s growth curve was also normal, the mother chose to avoid eight major types of foods, and continued to eat only rice, green vegetables, and pork for 3 months,but the baby’s bloody stools never disappeared.
The mother felt very confused until the truth was revealed when the baby was 6 months old and started to add complementary food.
It was the baby’s first time to eat rice porridge, and the baby had severe vomiting 2 hours after eating the porridge, followed by diarrhea and even dehydration, and was hospitalized or received intravenous fluid in the outpatient department for 3 times in a month. In the end, considering various performances, rice allergy caused allergic enterocolitis was considered.
With this diagnosis, the baby has since avoided rice, and the mother has also avoided rice, and the bloody stools have disappeared since then.
Don’t you think it’s amazing? Who would have thought it was rice!
As a pediatrician, I also found rice allergy incredible in the early years, but with the deepening understanding of food allergies in recent years, I have increasingly realized thatrice allergy, though rare, can cause serious health risksand is often overlooked by many people.So, today we will analyze and reveal the true face of rice allergy.
What are the symptoms of rice allergy?
Symptoms of rice allergy are similar to other food allergies and can manifest as various IgE-mediated and non-IgE-mediated clinical syndromes.
IgE-mediated food allergic reactions occur quickly, usually within minutes to 2 hours after ingestion, and the severity varies from person to person.
Non-IgE-mediated food allergies more often manifest as subacute and/or chronic symptoms, usually limited to the gastrointestinal tract and/or skin. For a detailed introduction, you can read the popular science article below:
For the pediatric population, there are special considerations. When infants are first exposed to rice as a complementary food, it may trigger “food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome,” and delayed reactions should be vigilant. And if a baby vomits after eating a new food for the first time, it is important to be vigilant about this dangerous allergy!
Why do children develop allergies to rice?
The core of rice allergy is theimmune system’s abnormal recognition of specific proteins. The pathological mechanism is that the body has an abnormal immune response to specific proteins in rice(such as globulins, prolamins), leading to the release of histamine and other inflammatory mediators from mast cells, causing local or systemic inflammation.
There are at least 14 allergenic proteins in rice, among which α-globulin and β-globulin are the main allergens. Specific antigenic epitopes in their three-dimensional molecular structure can trigger IgE-mediated immune responses.
How to determine if it is rice allergy?
Diagnosing rice allergy requires a combination of medical history, symptoms, and related test results. Common diagnostic methods include:
What can be eaten if allergic to rice?
At present, there is no cure for rice allergy, and the main treatment is to strictly avoid eating rice and its products.
Alternative Food Recommendations
Staple food alternatives: Millet, Oats, Corn, Sorghum, Buckwheat, etc.
The above alternative foods need to be confirmed for no cross-allergy, and infants and young children need to be added gradually and observed for reactions.
Lifestyle Guidance
1. Food Label Inspection
Be vigilant about hidden sources such as rice flour, rice milk, rice vinegar, beer, and seasonings.
2. Risks of Eating Out
Asian restaurants (such as sushi, rice noodle soup) and pre-processed food products have higher risks, and it is necessary to actively communicate allergy history.
3. Nutritional Substitution Plan
Supplement B vitamins (when brown rice alternatives are insufficient) and dietary fiber.
Daily Precautions
1. Strict Avoidance of Allergens
Avoid eating rice products (such as rice noodles, rice threads)
and be aware of hidden ingredients in processed foods (such as rice syrup, rice starch, etc.).
2. Cross-Contamination Prevention
Use separate kitchen utensils, after confirming cross-allergy, strict avoidance is necessary, choose gluten-free certified alternative grain products.
3. Medication
Use antihistamines for mild symptoms (such as cetirizine, loratadine); severe reactions require immediate injection of epinephrine.
4. Immunotherapy
Under the supervision of professional medical institutions, gradually increase the amount of allergen exposure to improve tolerance.
Allergens are everywhere, how to prevent?
Early Identification of Allergy Signals
Pay attention to abnormal reactions in the skin, digestive, or respiratory systems, especially in infants and young children who develop persistent rashes or diarrhea after eating, vigilance is required.
Infants and young children who repeatedly vomit or develop rashes after first adding rice paste;
adults who experience a sense of throat constriction or wheezing after consuming rice products.
Distinguish Allergy from Intolerance
Allergies are mediated by IgE, with rapid and severe symptoms(such as hives, difficulty breathing). Intolerance is a non-immune reaction, manifesting as chronic symptoms such as bloating and diarrhea, for more information, you can read this popular science article👇.
Cross-Contamination Prevention
Use dedicated kitchen utensils for cooking to avoid contact with foods containing rice components
(such as oil used for frying rice cakes for other foods); when dining out, clearly communicate allergy requirements and choose dishes without rice ingredients. Food manufacturers should also be aware of the risks of shared production lines for rice flour and other cereal flours.
In this era surrounded by industrialized food, rice allergy is like a prism, reflecting the complex symbiotic relationship between the human immune system and agricultural civilization.
Although rice allergy is rare, it can seriously affect the quality of life.
Through scientific diagnosis, reasonable substitution, and strict prevention, risks can be effectively controlled.
If you suspect an allergy, please seek medical attention in time and follow an individualized management plan, do not attempt “desensitization therapy” on your own.
References
References
