An allergic reaction occurs when your child consumes a food that the body perceives as an allergen. This results in a reaction often consisting of hives or redness/rash. In some cases, more serious reactions can occur, manifesting as difficulty breathing, severe swelling and even a drop in blood pressure and loss of consciousness. This more serious reaction is called anaphylaxis.
Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction involving difficulty breath and/or a drop in blood pressure, accompanied by other symptoms such as hives, abdominal pain or vomiting. Anaphylaxis is a potentially life-threatening reaction and immediate medical attention is required.
The treatment of anaphylaxis involves the administration of a device containing Adrenaline. The most common form is an Adrenaline injectable device. New forms of Adrenaline inhaled through the nose are now available.
A Paediatric Allergist and Immunologist is a doctor who has completed his/her paediatric training, and then undergone several years of additional further subspecialty training in paediatric allergy and immunology at the Allergy and Immunology department in a major children’s teaching hospital. Their area of expertise and interest is therefore solely paediatric allergy and immunology. Paediatric Allergy and Immunology is a dedicated children’s subspecialty.
Unlike general allergists, our specialist doctors are exclusively paediatric-trained and only see patients from 0-18 years of age. They do not see adult patients.
North Shore Paediatric Allergy Centre is a purpose-built clinic for children with allergies. Our Paediatric Allergy Doctors have subspecialised in Paediatrics AND allergy and immunology. They have undergone years of specialty training in Allergy and Immunology at Westmead Children’s Hospital and only treat children with allergies and immune deficiencies. They are highly experienced and skilled in managing children with allergies with a strong emphasis on open communication and patient education. Many of the specialist doctors at our clinic are actively involved in allergy research and their approach in managing allergies is based on latest medical evidence-based research and translated into the best practical care for your child.
Management options can be complex and some are associated with side-effects and risks. It is therefore of vital importance that your child’s allergy is managed by a specifically Australian trained and qualified Paediatric Allergist and Immunologist
Parent education is the cornerstone of our treatment and ample time is allocated for each appointment to ensure that parents have a clear understanding of their child’s allergy and management plan.
At our clinic, we use a needleless system where the allergen droplet and “prick” is administered simultaneously. This technique is quicker and results in less discomfort for the child, compared with the traditional method.
As allergies are complex and vary from child to child, we do not perform standard “panels” of allergy tests. Instead, a thorough history and examination is obtained before individualised skin prick testing to specific allergens (where necessary) is performed on each child. Your doctor will then explain to you the test result and the implications of this test result, before providing a management plan specific for your child. You will be provided with a printed report of the allergy test to keep as a personal record.
Supervised food challenges are essential in the treatment and diagnosis of food allergies. They are procedures that are performed to further determine if your child is allergic to a specific food, or has outgrown their allergy. They can also be performed as part of food oral immunotherapy programs (OIT) which are being offered at the clinic. They are carried out by our Specialist allergist and immunologist in conjunction with our consultant nurse specialists who have had years of experience in allergy and anaphylaxis management. Supervised food challenges are generally not performed to ascertain the severity of an allergic reaction (eg anaphylaxis).
The food challenge starts with a clinical assessment on arrival to ensure that the child is suitable for the food challenge. This is sometimes followed by a skin prick test to the food to be challenged. The small amount of food to be challenged will then be offered to your child in gradually increasing amounts to be given every 15-20 minutes. Your child will be closely monitored by our medical and nursing staff throughout the process for an allergic reaction. After the final dose, your child will be observed for a further 1-2 hours before being discharged. The food oral challenges can be of at least 4 hours duration, and are performed according to specialised allergy protocols under expert medical and nursing supervision to ensure safety at all time.
We request that no antihistamines are given to your child for at least 48 hours prior to the supervised food challenge. Your child also should be completely well on the day of the challenge. If your child is unwell with a runny nose, cough, fever or sore throat (or if you are unsure) 7 days prior to the appointment, or has had to take an antihistamine within 48 hours of the challenge, please 9411 8888 or send an email to info@kidsallergy.com.au to reschedule as soon as possible.
No fasting is required on the day of the food challenge. However, we do advise that your child is given half a meal before the challenge (eg half breakfast if procedure is in the morning or half lunch if procedure starts in afternoon) to ensure they are motivated to eat during the challenge.
You would have received written information regarding what to bring. Please bring the food that is to be challenged as per instructions on the handout
If your child is having a baked egg or milk challenge, we will supply a muffin recipe for you to prepare prior to the food challenge. We also ask that you bring some of your child’s favourite food that he/she has had in the past on multiple occasions without any issues, as it can sometimes be challenging to introduce a food that your child has been told to avoid. This can include ice-cream, frozen yoghurt and sauces. As the challenge procedure lasts for a few hours, we recommend that you bring some entertainment for your child (eg their favourite game or colouring activity). The challenge room is equipped with a television with continuous children’s programs playing.
Please also bring a water bottle for yourself.
A reminder that only one parent is able to attend the clinic with each child undergoing a challenge, and the parent will have to stay with the child for the duration of the supervised food challenge.
Immunotherapy is a form of treatment of allergic disease. It involves “tricking the immune system” and inducing tolerance to the allergen. There can be side effects to immunotherapy, and suitability for immunotherapy will need to be discussed with your allergy specialist. Immunotherapy requires careful consideration as it involves a long-term commitment of 3-5 years for maximal benefit.
There are different treatment modes for Immunotherapy for inhaled aeroallergens (eg house dust mite, pollen etc) and food allergy.
If indicated or required, the method of delivery of immunotherapy will depend on your child’s medical history and circumstance.
Different types of immunotherapy include:
- Monthly subcutaneous injections (subcutaneous immunotherapy SCIT)
- Daily drops under tongue (sublingual immunotherapy SLIT)
- Tablets under the tongue
- Oral Food Immunotherapy (OIT)