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The boy who is allergic to almost EVERY food
Last updated at 00:37am on 01.10.07
Tyler Savage: he is fed through a tube in his stomach
A boy of 12 suffers from so many allergies that he is able to eat only five foods.
Tyler Savage is violently ill every time he is given dishes containing dairy products or wheat, gluten, eggs, lactose and soya.
The sole foods he is allowed are chicken, carrots, grapes, potatoes and apples.
To help him survive, minerals and vitamins are pumped directly into his stomach through a tube.
Tyler started to fall ill at the age of six when even a morsel of food would leave him writhing in agony from sickness and diarrhoea.
His mother, Lynne Savage, 43, said: "We asked for help but kept being told that he was suffering from a stomach infection. As a result his weight dropped drastically.
"He ran out of energy really quickly and couldn't do the things other children were doing. He just seemed to be getting worse and worse.
"It's been a real struggle. We didn't know what to do."
Tyler - from Earls Colne in Essex - was seen by a paediatrician at Chelmsford's St John's Hospital and had his appendix removed in December 2005.
Although the operation was a success it failed to solve the problem and he was referred to Colchester General Hospital for further tests and treatment.
That shed no light on the mystery illness and in April last year Tyler was sent to Great Ormond Street Hospital in London for checks on his stomach and bowels.
The tests led to a diagnosis of eosinophilic enteropathy, a rare and condition in which the intestines produce too many white blood cells.
These act as a miniature immune system and attack food passing through the gut to the stomach.
The condition saw Tyler's weight drop to barely three stone.
"He was becoming malnourished," said Mrs Savage, a married mother-of-three and housewife.
At first, Tyler was fitted with a nose tube to help get food direct to his stomach, bypassing the rogue blood cells in his gut.
Then, this May, he had a tube inserted into his stomach allowing him to be fed for up to ten hours through the night.
"Even though this will continue for the foreseeable future, it is a godsend," said Mrs Savage.
"Last year he was only at school for about ten days, but in the first two weeks of this new term he's only missed one day.
"We've got a long way to go but at least we're now getting some answers."
In the day, Tyler, whose father, David, 60, is an engineer, can eat the five foods he is not allergic to.
Reader views (25)
Here's a sample of the latest views published.
I had lots of ear infections from <1yr old to the age of 11. When I avoided preservatives, artificial colours and flavours I was normal again. As an adult I later progressed to dairy, soy, nuts and gluten intolerances. Avoiding these gave me a clear head, no chronic fatigue, normal bowel movements, no arthritis symptoms and an active life once again.
Poor kid, he has it a lot worse than me.
- Amanda, brisbane, australia
My son has this too, he has allergic enteropathy, food aversion, protracted diarrhoea, vomiting, bile reflux, the list goes on and on. He is allergic to gluten, wheat, soya, dairy, etc., etc. He's 3 years old.
- Haley, Fife, Scotland
Don't give up hope! I really hope that a solution/cure can be found soon. God Bless You.
- Michelle, Wisconsin, U.S.A.
My son is 21 months. After I stopped breastfeeding (he was a year old) he began to get severe ear infections. We talked to a nutritionist and his pediatrician about alternatives to doing ear tubes. We took his formula away--and switched him to a dairy free diet. Ever since then he has not had an ear infection.
- Alexis, Lubbock, United States
A 5 year old boy I know is allergic to dairy, poultry, soy, rice, all nuts, most fruits and veggies, eggs, lactose, yeast, wheat, and many other foods. It is very sad.
- Michelle, Port Washington, New York, U.S.A.
My brother suffers the same symptoms. He was diagnosed with Celiacs, a gluten intolerance. This led to allergies to corn and dairy products. He was put on a gluten free diet and is doing great now. It took two years and three trips to Shands to get disgnosed. Don't give up!
- Marc Oliver, Florida, USA
I'm allergic to dairy, wheat, eggs, lactose, soy, peanuts AND yeast. I got this kid beat.
- Geordie, Vancouver, Canada
Our family is dealing with this disease and it can be very difficult. Meeting others who know what we are going through is a huge help. American Partnership for Eosinophilic Disorders is making excellent progress in raising awareness for better research, diagnosis and treatment.
- Melinda, Georgia, USA
Poor kid.
- Skippy, USA
You think it would be any better in the states? He probably never would have been diagnosed. And he could have forgotten about ever getting health insurance in the future. It's best he lives in a country with nationalized healthcare.
- Paul, New York, USA
Read again Matt, it took six years to diagnose him. Once that was done he was treated right away, as he had been during the previous years. At least his parents didn't have to put out coffee cans with his picture on it in the local stores to raise money for him. God Bless America, brightlights.
- John, Elmont, NY
and it only cost him... oh, wait, nothing. Right.
- Josh, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Indeed Matt, in the States he just would have waited until his parents could come up with 60 or 70 thousand dollars.
- Lisa, London, Canada
"The beauty of nationalized health care...it's only taken this poor boy 6 years, or half of his life, to get the treatment he's needed."
Yes, hes lucky enough to be able to get the treatment. Technology has advanced so that we can keep this boy alive. It may have taken a while, but Canada, America and parts of Europe are the only places where he could get treatment. Thank nationalized health care that he's alive, and not slowly dying.
- Alex, Canada
Matt said:
"The beauty of nationalized health care...it's only taken this poor boy 6 years, or half of his life, to get the treatment he's needed."
Maybe, but at least it wasn't down to how much his parents could afford.
- Ian Johnson, Christchurch, New Zealand
I have a daughter who at the age of 6 began getting allergic to various fruits and vegetables. She is now in her twenties and the list has grown quite a bit. Although she does not get all the symptoms Tyler does, she does get alarming reactions. Her recent comment was "Pretty soon I won't be able to eat anything." I am so thankful you printed this article because now she can ask the doctor to check her for this condition. It is a God send.
- Mary, Atlanta,GA, USA
That really sucks, like he will never be able to go out with his friends and just be a kid, and I imagine he will really start to have those five foods he can eat.
- Melissa G, Brampton, Canada
I have a daughter that is allergic to wheat, dairy, chicken, citrus, nuts, and eggs. While she is difficult to feed, when we focus on what she can eat and be a little creative- there is a lot that we can feed her. But more importantly, when people feel sorry for her, I always tell them we are thankful and celebrate that her allergies are not life threatening. We are not dealing with leukaemia or tumors; what are a few food allergies?
- Lea Ann Turner, Temple, Texas USA
The poor little soul. And there is nothing that can be done? No treatment or medications that can reduce the reactions? You are in my prayers for a cure, little one. Bless you.
- Louise, Key West, Florida US
Matt, Without any health care he might never had received treatment!
- Bob, Huntington Beach, CA, USA
At least he can still eat chicken!
- Avogadro Torres, Argentina
We too had a child at 4 years old that was allergic to casein (dairy), gluten, soy, corn, citrus, chocolate, and came back with a 3+ to 76 of 93 foods on an IGA food panel. Years of feeding her the right combinations resulted in her resolving most of the allergies/sensitivies. She is now 13 and can eat all but casein (dairy) and chocolate. Checking PH levels have been a huge help.
- Tracy Reed, Essex Junction, VT
We have a 9 year old girl on my daughter's soccer team who is allergic to everything also-she can have only a limited amount of foods, and every time she goes to the allergist, she's allergic to something else!
- Soccer Mom, Maryland
I imagine that this brave young man and his saintly parents would like to thank the person who invented this type of nutrition: Stanley Dudrick MD. I had two children on TPN.
- Soo Zen, USA
The beauty of nationalized health care...it's only taken this poor boy 6 years, or half of his life, to get the treatment he's needed.
- Matt, Atlanta, GA, U.S.A
