Allergy vs Intolerance

Sometimes I call Makayla's reactions allergies, and sometimes intolerances.  But the truth is, according to the doctors, she doesn't have a "true" allergy to anything.  

Here is the definition pf Food Allergy from Mayo Clinic: 

Food allergy is an immune system reaction that occurs soon after eating a certain food. Even a tiny amount of the allergy-causing food can trigger signs and symptoms such as digestive problems, hives or swollen airways. In some people, a food allergy can cause severe symptoms or even a life-threatening reaction known as anaphylaxis. 

Food allergy affects an estimated 6 to 8 percent of children under age 3 and up to 3 percent of adults. While there's no cure, some children outgrow their food allergy as they get older. 

It's easy to confuse a food allergy with a much more common reaction known as food intolerance. While bothersome, food intolerance is a less serious condition that does not involve the immune system.

It is true that Makayla doesn't have any of the anaphylaxis reactions to foods or environmental triggers.  All of her reactions are gastrointestinal to food.  To environmental triggers, we know she sometimes has an eczema reaction, and that she becomes extremely irritable and unable to function to other environmental triggers, but since she s three, she can't explain what those feel like yet.  However, I have a strong hunch that her reactions are an immune system reaction, caused by an auto immune disorder.  

I don't have any sort of diagnosis to back that hunch up.  Not because doctors have been unable to find or confirm my theory, but rather, because every single GI doctor, and allergist (five, in total now, all from highly regarded medical facilities, such as UCSF, UCLA and a local Asthma & Allergy Center) has dismissed her reactions as non serious food intolerances.