Chronic stomach pain from food allergies can be remedied by identifying which foods are causing the allergic reaction. Once identified, the foods that you're allergic to can be avoided and will alleviate the stomach pain. Chronic stomach pain that persists after the food is eliminated from your diet is a sign of another medical condition that needs to be evaluated by your doctor. Food allergies are commonly confused with food intolerances, which also cause stomach pain.
Food Allergies
Food allergies occur when your body reacts to the proteins found in certain foods as a dangerous substance. Although all food proteins are safe for the human consumption, your body mistakes the proteins as harmful and begins to defend itself by attacking the proteins with antibodies. Immunoglobulin E, or IgE, antibodies are created to attack the food proteins, which causes mast cells in the body to create histamine. Histamine is a naturally occurring hormone in the body that protects against infection. Too much histamine leads to swelling and other common symptoms of a food allergy.
Cause
Stomach pain is the result of increased histamine levels in the intestines that causes inflammation and irritation. You may also experience cramping, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea as a result of a food allergy.
Stomach Pain
The only time you should experience chronic stomach pain with a food allergy is if you're unaware that you have a food allergy or you eat foods you're allergic to -- in spite of a diagnosis. Stomach pain from food allergies will only last for a few hours, while the food is in the digestive system. Once the food is eliminated from the body, the stomach pain should subside.
Elimination Diet
Your doctor may recommend an elimination diet to help identify which foods are causing the stomach pain. An elimination diet is not intended to diagnose an allergy, but it is used instead to identify potential foods that can be included in allergy testing. During an elimination diet, you remove all foods that you and your doctor suspect you may be allergic to for up to two weeks. After the two weeks, you slowly reintroduce each food one at a time. Keep a journal of what food you eat, how much of it and how it affects your stomach. Report your findings to your doctor.
