paediatric allergy service news

Did you know? Introducing allergenic foods during infancy may help reduce the risk of developing food allergies. 

What the evidence shows

• Early introduction of common allergenic foods such as peanut, egg, dairy, wheat, soy, fish and sesame during the first year of life may help reduce allergy risk.
• The landmark LEAP study found that early and regular peanut introduction reduced the risk of peanut allergy by approximately 80% in high-risk infants.
• NIAID and AAP guidelines support the early introduction of peanut-containing foods, particularly for infants at increased risk. 

How Does It Work?

The immune system learns what is safe through exposure. When babies eat allergenic foods early and regularly, their immune system is more likely to develop tolerance to these foods instead of recognising them as harmful.

In simple terms:

• Early and regular exposure helps teach the immune system that a food is safe.
• Avoiding allergenic foods for long periods may increase the likelihood that the immune system will react to them later.

Some evidence also suggests that some babies, particularly those with eczema, may become sensitised to foods through their skin before they eat them. Introducing allergenic foods by mouth early may help prevent this process and promote tolerance.

 

Practical Tips for Parents 

• Introduce one new allergenic food at a time.
• Offer foods in age-appropriate forms and avoid choking hazards such as whole nuts.
• Continue offering tolerated foods regularly.
• Seek medical advice before introduction if your baby has severe eczema or a known food allergy. 

Key Message 

Early, safe, and regular introduction of allergenic foods is now considered an important strategy in helping to prevent food allergies. 

References 

1. NIAID Addendum Guidelines for the Prevention of Peanut Allergy in the United States (2017). 

2. American Academy of Pediatrics. Updates in Food Allergy Prevention in Children (2023). 

3. HealthyChildren.org (AAP). Early Introduction of Peanut-based Foods to Prevent Allergies. 

4. Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE). Early Introduction and Food Allergy Prevention. 

For many families, living with food allergies can be overwhelming. I have seen first-hand how the increasing number of children diagnosed with allergies has led to significant stress, anxiety, and lifestyle changes. Simple activities such as eating out, attending birthday parties, or travelling abroad can become major sources of worry for parents and children alike.

I am proud to say that our paediatric allergy service has now successfully started providing Oral Immunotherapy (OIT), also known as oral food desensitisation. This treatment is already making a meaningful difference to the lives of many of our patients and their families by helping to build confidence and improve quality of life.

OIT involves offering patients very small amounts of the food they are allergic to every day, gradually increasing the dose over time to help build tolerance. While it is not a cure for food allergies, it can significantly reduce the risk of severe reactions from accidental exposure and provide families with greater peace of mind.

Dr Rajiv Sood runs the immunotherapy clinic within the Starlight Outpatients Department alongside our specialist allergy nurses and our specialist allergy dietician, whose expertise and dedication are central to the success of the service. We currently offer desensitisation for peanut, egg, cashew and milk. We are also hoping to provide a variety of other food OIT in the future and continue to gain knowledge on how to do this.

This type of service is not always readily available across many NHS trusts due to the time, resources, and specialist knowledge required to deliver it safely. OIT requires careful monitoring, regular follow-up, and highly trained staff to support patients throughout the process.

Seeing the positive impact this service has had on families has been incredibly rewarding. Parents have shared how their children now feel more confident attending social events, eating in restaurants, and travelling with less fear and anxiety. For many, it has given them a sense of normality that they had been missing for years.

As our service continues to grow, we remain committed to providing safe, compassionate, and specialist care for children with allergies and supporting families every step of the way.

 

From left to right: Dr Rajiv Sood Consultant Paediatrician, Yvette Oppong-Kwarteng Paediatric Allergy CNS, Maria D’Cruz Paediatric Nurse with an interest in allergy, Juli Khatun Paediatric Allergy CNS, Yvonne Polydorou Highly specialist allergy dietician.