Background:

Food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome or FPIES is a rare, not-IgE-mediated food allergy. The predominant feature is vomit from one to four hours after consuming the causal food.

Clinical case:

An 8-month-old boy, with no family history of allergy, with a personal pathological history of allergy to cow’s milk protein. At 7 months of age, he had acute gastroenteritis with mixed shock and, at 8 months of age, he had acute gastroenteritis and moderate dehydration. In both episodes, he had eaten rice before the symptoms started. When infectious etiology and other causes of vomit and dehydration were ruled out, the diagnosis of FPIES, which is secondary to rice protein, was made and confirmed with a patch test.

Conclusion:

FPIES should be considered in the differential diagnosis of recurrent gastroenteritis, especially in severe cases without an identified infectious cause.