Paediatric Food Allergy Prevention

Why might my child need paediatric food allergy prevention?

Paediatric food allergies can cause problems ranging from eczema to life-threatening allergic reactions. Up to 8% of babies have food allergies in the UK, and with a Proactive Approach, food allergies can be prevented. The latest research shows that babies who regularly eat nut butters, egg and cow’s milk before an allergy develops can effectively prevent their development.

Introducing allergens into your child’s diet ‘teaches the immune system’ to tolerate a wider range of foods, and can even help to limit the impact of some allergies if they are already emerging. This process had an enormous capacity to protect children. We run a timely and effective service designed to expedite testing and introduction of allergens your child’s diet.

How does the Welbeck paediatric food allergy prevention work?

The aim in this service is to expedite the safe introduction of allergens for your child. We assess the risk of your child developing food allergies, and plan the diet you wish to offer your child. This involves:

• Undertaking a prompt, detailed history-taking consultation, including the amounts and types of allergens eaten, their timing and determining if there were any specific associated symptoms and their aetiology
• Offering skin prick testing (same appointment results; please avoid antihistamines beforehand for at least three days).
• Arranging, if necessary, further tests, such as blood testing, or challenge testing where foods are consumed under our supervision to ensure safe dietary consumption

Our allergy team specialises in a wide range of allergy tests and treatments – from straightforward procedures such as patch tests and skin pricks, to more complex treatments such as desensitisation and food provocation. Testing may be undertaken within a face-to-face visit by skin testing or by blood testing.

This expedited service offers a rapid assessment for your child’s developmental and allergy requirements.

For infants without significant sensitisation, foods may be introduced at home, however those with limited sensitisation may benefit from supervised introduction in clinic.

Are there any risks associated with food allergy prevention?

There aren't any major risks associated with food allergy prevention. Thorough assessment and review are important to navigate the best option for your child and may involve testing. Skin prick testing is not painful but can be itchy. It is very safe and adverse reactions such as generalised itchiness are very unusual.

Children avoid food for many reasons, including taste, texture, stressful mealtimes or already being full! Some children start to refuse when they develop early food allergy symptoms.

Please get in touch if you have concerns about your child’s dietary breadth and enjoyment of allergens.