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A Colleague Aged 64 Suffered From Abdominal Pain , Gas,
Question: A colleague aged 64 suffered from abdominal pain, gas, nausea, reflux, and diarrhea 1-3 days several times in late 2018 / 2019 after meals. The initial diagnosis based on his symptoms was Gerd.
In Oct 19, based on a a blood test for food allergy, he was stated to be allergic to various foods mainly to yeast and yeast made products. He thereafter avoided such foods, and the abdominal discomfort, etc . stopped.
In 2020, on 3 occasions with intervals of 2 -5 months he had abdominal pains, diarrhea, nausea/vomiting which started a couple of hours after the meals and lasted for 2-3 days. In all 3 cases, the illness took place after eating outside food. Antibiotics (Zanocin) was prescribed for all the above incidents.
The doctor has now asked him to take a Fecal Occult test. The test was never done during annual routine blood and urine tests which were normal. He is under medication for hypertension for 5 years.
1. After avoiding the items which the blood test indicated he was allergic or intolerant to, he had no symptoms of abdominal discomfort, etc. after meals.
2. He has never had persistant constipation, diarrhea, or abdominal pain or any change in bowel habits except for the above 3 instances of indigestion. There is no visible blood in his stool.
My questions are as follows:
1. What is the difference between food allergy and food intolerance, and how do we distingsuish between the two?
2. Is food allergy diagnosed solely based on a blood test or are there other tests also required?
3. Why does a Fecal Occult test need to be done? Is blood in the stool always linked to colo rectal cancer ?
4. Given that his symptoms improved after avoiding certain foods, isn't it more likely that the 3 indigestion instances were due to food allergy rather than any other cause?
5. How do we distingusih between food allergy symptoms such as abdominal bloating, etc and colo rectal cancer symptoms?
Thanks
In Oct 19, based on a a blood test for food allergy, he was stated to be allergic to various foods mainly to yeast and yeast made products. He thereafter avoided such foods, and the abdominal discomfort, etc . stopped.
In 2020, on 3 occasions with intervals of 2 -5 months he had abdominal pains, diarrhea, nausea/vomiting which started a couple of hours after the meals and lasted for 2-3 days. In all 3 cases, the illness took place after eating outside food. Antibiotics (Zanocin) was prescribed for all the above incidents.
The doctor has now asked him to take a Fecal Occult test. The test was never done during annual routine blood and urine tests which were normal. He is under medication for hypertension for 5 years.
1. After avoiding the items which the blood test indicated he was allergic or intolerant to, he had no symptoms of abdominal discomfort, etc. after meals.
2. He has never had persistant constipation, diarrhea, or abdominal pain or any change in bowel habits except for the above 3 instances of indigestion. There is no visible blood in his stool.
My questions are as follows:
1. What is the difference between food allergy and food intolerance, and how do we distingsuish between the two?
2. Is food allergy diagnosed solely based on a blood test or are there other tests also required?
3. Why does a Fecal Occult test need to be done? Is blood in the stool always linked to colo rectal cancer ?
4. Given that his symptoms improved after avoiding certain foods, isn't it more likely that the 3 indigestion instances were due to food allergy rather than any other cause?
5. How do we distingusih between food allergy symptoms such as abdominal bloating, etc and colo rectal cancer symptoms?
Thanks
Brief Answer:
Please go through detailed answer dear.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thank you for choosing "Ask a Doctor" service for your query,
Have seen the details of patient sir and I appreciate your concerns toward your friend,
As per your query answers are-
1-2)Both the words are used in conjugation with each other. However in general intolerant means that one can't tolerate that food(varies like one person can be intolerant to spicy food but other may be comfortable with that amount of spice).This does not mean that same person is allergic to spices.....
3)Occult means hidden blood(which can be seen by microscope only)...Some conditions like Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis or irritable bowel syndrome can present with microscopic blood drops.
No it's not always related to cancer. Cancer patient usually present with gross hameturia(large amount of blood)
4)Very likely yes symptoms were a result of taking outside food(contaminated and usually oily and spicy).
5)Symptoms of cancer would not be same for years...within a month things would change from mild to severe....Colorectal cancer patient would progress from microscopic to macroscopic bleed in matter of weeks...Along with it pain would be severe(patient won't be relieved by medications).
Ask your friend to avoid eating food from outside.
Home cooked light food would be best for him.
Hope I was helpful,
Feel free to Follow up.
Regards!
Please go through detailed answer dear.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thank you for choosing "Ask a Doctor" service for your query,
Have seen the details of patient sir and I appreciate your concerns toward your friend,
As per your query answers are-
1-2)Both the words are used in conjugation with each other. However in general intolerant means that one can't tolerate that food(varies like one person can be intolerant to spicy food but other may be comfortable with that amount of spice).This does not mean that same person is allergic to spices.....
3)Occult means hidden blood(which can be seen by microscope only)...Some conditions like Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis or irritable bowel syndrome can present with microscopic blood drops.
No it's not always related to cancer. Cancer patient usually present with gross hameturia(large amount of blood)
4)Very likely yes symptoms were a result of taking outside food(contaminated and usually oily and spicy).
5)Symptoms of cancer would not be same for years...within a month things would change from mild to severe....Colorectal cancer patient would progress from microscopic to macroscopic bleed in matter of weeks...Along with it pain would be severe(patient won't be relieved by medications).
Ask your friend to avoid eating food from outside.
Home cooked light food would be best for him.
Hope I was helpful,
Feel free to Follow up.
Regards!
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
Answered by
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