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Food Allergy in the NHS |
We often carry articles from allergy consultants or complementary practitioners specialising in allergy - or from allergy sufferers themselves - but, up till now, we have rarely heard from ‘regular’ NHS practitioners about how they deal with allergy in a general hospital situation. Sudip Ghosh is a specialist registrar in ENT working at Manchester Royal Infirmary with an interest in allergy; he has recently published a paper on the relationship between childhood food allergies and rhinitis. He gives an overview of food allergy as he meets it in his clinic. |
Food allergies may be common enough to affect one in every 16 children, but a parent of a 3-year-old with allergies finds little comfort in statistics. Especially when they are aware that food allergies can be serious and that deaths do happen, although very rarely. As Professor Jonathan Hourihane, a specialist on children’s allergies, points out: ‘much (parental) anxiety relates to the lack of confidence that families have in their family doctors, who may not be very knowledgeable about allergies.’ (1) It is therefore extremely important that both the parents and children themselves have sufficient knowledge to deal with an allergic event if the occasion arises. In many cases, tests are scarcely needed, as it is fairly obvious what is causing the reaction. Allergy tests can themselves cause severe reactions, although this is rare, but since it is impossible to predict beforehand who will and who will not react, it is best that the tests are carried out in hospitals. If your child has had an allergic reaction and you are unsure why, it is quite reasonable to request your doctor to arrange an allergy test for the common food allergies. The first step is to get educated with accurate, reliable information. Support In my opinion, continued support and education is a far more effective approach. The vast majority of ‘mild reactions’ can be treated simply with anti-histamines. But mild allergic reactions need just the same work-up as severe ones, and it is imperative to be well prepared just in case. Food allergy is here to stay, and it is getting commoner. But the vast majority of allergic children grow up to lead healthy lives. However, to ensure that they do, their families need to accept the allergy and deal with it head on, armed with information and an action plan. Just as they would deal with most other difficult situations in life. References: First published in 2007 More articles on the management and treatment of food allergy and intolerance |