An allergy is when the body’s immune system reacts to something harmless as though it is dangerous. Typical triggers include foods, pollen, mould or animal fur. This reaction can cause milder symptoms like rashes, itching, swelling and sneezing or more serious symptoms .

Around 10% of children under 12 months of age are affected by food allergy. Food allergy reactions decrease slightly in older children to about 4-8% by the age of four. Common trigger foods include milk, eggs, soy, wheat, sesame, peanuts and tree nuts. We aim to quickly diagnose food allergies so children can lead normal lives

Childhood eczema is a common skin condition that often starts in young babies, causing dry, itchy, and irritated patches of skin. It usually appears on areas like the face, trunk, elbows, and knees and can be uncomfortable, sometimes making it hard for children to sleep. We can assist with a comprehensive plan to dramatically improve your child’s itchy inflamed skin.

Hives(urticaria) are itchy welts that look like mosquito bites. They can be caused by many things including allergy but are usually harmless and respond to antihistamines. We can help with diagnosis and treatment of hives.

Around 1 in 5 children have chestiness in the preschool years which may respond to asthma treatments. As children start school this problem often improves although a small number may go on to develop nose and chest problems due to environmental factors such as dust or pollens. We can test for these types of allergies and treat them to improve your child’s quality of life.

The most common allergy test is called a skin prick test where small amounts of possible allergy trigger substances are applied to the skin using tiny pricks. If a raised bump (wheal) appears then the possibility of an allergy is considered. The test is well tolerated by children with results available in 15-20 minutes. Allergy blood testing can also be performed if skin testing can’t be performed for some reason but the results are not available on the day.

Around 90 percent of people told they have an antibiotic allergy do not. We can investigate this for your child and hopefully remove this label. It is also very common to have reactions to bites and stings most of which are harmless. We can help families understand the difference with a thorough history and management plan.