The patient is a three year old white male who was seen at the Center for symptoms of severe abdominal pain, painful, irregular bowel movements, failure to thrive, rectal prolapse associated with bowel movements and anal fissures. The abdominal pain and irregular bowel movements started two years previously. This child had been under treatment for two and a half years by various physicians.

History revealed that the patient had a normal birth. He was described as a "difficult feeder" - he cried and screamed during and after breast feeding. He was switched to Similac&trade with no improvement, then to " Soy formula ", which made the condition worse. Enfami&trade was tried and was better tolerated; however, the patient stil cried at each feeding. Between the third and sixth month, the patient's weight dropped from the 55th percenrile to the 45th percendle. Between the sixth month and ninth month, the weight dropped from the 45th percenrile to the 1 5rh percenrile. When the mother expressed concern at the infant's weight and appearance, she was told by the pediartician "You are thin, your husband is thin, and your son is also going to be thin." The parents also told the physician Aar the infant always seemed to have a rash, or irritated red patches of dry skin on his face. The physician's response was: "It's nothing to worry about, just dry skin." They also mentioned that the infant seemed to develop hives after starring on solid foods at four months of age. Again, they were told it was nothing to worry about.