Food allergies and parasites in children

Here’s a mind-blowing connection…

Food allergies and parasites!

There are similarities in how the immune system responds and in inflammatory mechanisms between food allergies and parasitic infections.

In case you didn’t know, high total IGE levels on food allergy blood testing can point to parasitic infection. High eosinophil levels can also point to parasitic infection.

Parasites in the gut can increase gut hyperpermeability, which is leaky gut. When that happens, there’s a greater risk of developing food allergies because a mechanism for their development is an impaired gut barrier, which allows those allergens to get into the bloodstream.

There is also cross-reactivity between some parasite antigens and food allergens! Shellfish is a big one.

Parasites also can increase, and cause a constant release of histamine, which makes the immune system hypersensitive and easily triggered by virtually anything, even if not previously allergic to it.

Symptoms of food allergy and parasitic infection actually have similarities. They include headaches and fever, rashes and hives, gastrointestinal symptoms, itching, and even a runny or stuffy nose.

This really points to the importance of checking out what’s happening in your child’s gut, especially if they have allergies and skin problems.

Packi K, Rudek A, Matysiak J, Klimczak S, Matuszewska E, Rzetecka N, Matysiak J. Food Allergies and Parasites in Children. Foods. 2023; 12(13):2465.