Doctors discovered that a 2-year-old child had a rare allergy to potatoes after months of confusing symptoms. The child kept getting sick with vomiting, diarrhea, and wheezing that doctors initially thought were caused by other problems. After special allergy tests showed the child was allergic to proteins in potatoes, removing potatoes from the diet completely solved all the symptoms. This case is important because potato allergies are very uncommon and easy to miss, so doctors might not think to test for them. The story shows why it’s crucial for doctors to consider unusual food allergies when children have ongoing stomach and breathing problems that don’t have an obvious cause.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: A single case of a young child who had stomach problems and breathing issues that turned out to be caused by an allergy to potatoes, which is very rare.
  • Who participated: One 2-year-old child who experienced repeated vomiting, diarrhea, and wheezing over several months.
  • Key finding: Allergy testing confirmed the child was allergic to potato proteins. Once potatoes were removed from the diet, all symptoms disappeared completely, and the child started gaining weight normally again.
  • What it means for you: If your young child has ongoing stomach or breathing problems that doctors can’t explain, it might be worth asking about food allergies—even uncommon ones like potatoes. However, this is just one case, so talk to your doctor before making major diet changes.

The Research Details

This is a case report, which means doctors documented the medical story of one specific patient in detail. The 2-year-old child came to the hospital with symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, and wheezing that kept happening over time. Doctors first thought the problems might be caused by lactose intolerance or a viral infection, so they tried treating those conditions. When the symptoms didn’t improve and actually got worse, the child was sent to a specialist called a pediatric allergist—a doctor who specializes in allergies in children.

The allergist performed several tests to figure out what was causing the problem. These included blood tests to measure immune system markers and a skin prick test, where tiny amounts of different substances are placed on the skin to see if they cause a reaction. The tests showed the child’s body was reacting to potato proteins. Once potatoes were removed from the diet, the child got better.

This research approach matters because it helps doctors recognize that rare allergies can hide behind common symptoms. By carefully documenting one patient’s journey from confusion to diagnosis, doctors can learn to spot similar patterns in other children. Case reports like this one add to medical knowledge about uncommon conditions that might otherwise be missed or misdiagnosed.

This is a single case report, which means it describes one patient’s experience rather than comparing many patients. While case reports are valuable for raising awareness about rare conditions, they cannot prove that something happens to everyone with the same allergy. The strength of this report is the detailed documentation and the clear connection between eating potatoes and symptoms getting better. The main limitation is that it’s just one child, so we can’t know how common this type of allergy is or how it affects different people.

What the Results Show

The child experienced a clear pattern of symptoms linked to potato consumption: vomiting, diarrhea, wheezing, and redness around the mouth. These symptoms appeared and disappeared based on whether potatoes were eaten. When doctors tested the child’s blood and skin, they found strong evidence of an allergic reaction to potato proteins, specifically a protein called Sol t 1.

Once the family removed all potatoes from the child’s diet, something remarkable happened: all the symptoms went away completely. The child stopped vomiting and having diarrhea, the wheezing disappeared, and the child began gaining weight normally again. This improvement showed that potatoes were indeed the cause of the problem.

Over time, blood tests showed that the child’s immune system became less reactive to potatoes, suggesting the body was gradually calming down its allergic response. The doctors did not perform a food challenge test (where the child would eat potatoes again to confirm the allergy) because the initial symptoms had been so severe.

The case also revealed that the child needed to avoid other foods in the same plant family as potatoes (called the Solanaceae family), which includes tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants. Some people with potato allergies can react to these related foods too. The child’s improved weight gain and overall quality of life after diagnosis showed how much the allergy had been affecting the child’s health and development.

Potato allergies are extremely rare compared to common allergies like peanuts, tree nuts, milk, and eggs. Most doctors don’t think about potato allergies when children have stomach or breathing problems, so cases like this one help expand medical knowledge. This case adds to a small but growing body of research showing that potatoes can cause allergic reactions in some people, even though potatoes are generally considered safe for most children.

This report describes only one child, so we cannot know if other children with potato allergies will have the same symptoms or respond the same way to treatment. We don’t know how common potato allergies actually are because most cases probably go undiagnosed. The doctors did not perform a food challenge test to absolutely confirm the allergy by having the child eat potatoes again, though this was a reasonable decision given how sick the child had been. Finally, we don’t know what will happen to this child long-term or whether the allergy might go away as the child grows older.

The Bottom Line

If your child has ongoing, unexplained stomach problems or breathing issues, ask your doctor about allergy testing—including less common food allergies. If allergy testing shows a potato allergy, completely removing potatoes from the diet appears to be effective. You should also ask about related foods in the potato family. However, these recommendations are based on one case, so work closely with your child’s doctor and possibly an allergy specialist to make decisions about your child’s diet.

Parents and doctors should pay attention to this case if a child has repeated vomiting, diarrhea, or wheezing that doesn’t have an obvious cause. Allergy specialists should consider potato allergies in their differential diagnosis. This case is less relevant for children with typical, well-understood food allergies or for adults, though adults can also develop potato allergies. People with known allergies to other plants in the Solanaceae family (tomatoes, peppers, eggplants) might want to discuss potato allergy risk with their doctor.

In this case, symptoms improved within days to weeks after removing potatoes from the diet. However, the timeline for improvement may vary from person to person. Blood tests showed declining immune markers over the follow-up period, suggesting gradual improvement in the allergic response, though this took weeks to months.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • If you suspect a food allergy, track daily symptoms (vomiting, diarrhea, wheezing, rashes) alongside a detailed food diary noting all foods eaten, including ingredients. Note the timing between eating and symptom onset. This pattern can help your doctor identify the problem food.
  • If allergy testing confirms a potato allergy, use the app to maintain a strict potato-free diet by logging all meals and checking ingredient lists before eating. Set reminders to check food labels for hidden potato ingredients (like potato starch or potato flour). Track weight gain and symptom improvement as motivation.
  • Long-term, use the app to monitor for any accidental potato exposure and track symptoms over months. Record follow-up allergy test results to see if immune markers are declining. Note any new symptoms that might suggest cross-reactivity with related foods like tomatoes or peppers. Share this data with your allergist at regular check-ups.

This case report describes one child’s experience with a potato allergy and should not be used to diagnose or treat allergies in other people. Food allergies are serious medical conditions that require professional diagnosis and management. If you suspect your child has a food allergy, consult with a pediatrician or allergist before making significant dietary changes. Do not attempt to diagnose allergies based on this report alone. Always seek medical guidance before introducing or eliminating foods from a child’s diet, especially if the child is experiencing symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, or difficulty breathing. This information is educational only and not a substitute for professional medical advice.