Children's Allergy

Children's Allergy Consultant Paediatrician in Allergy
MD FRCPCH
PGCert Paed Allergy
PGCert Allergy

Here's a quick look back at 2025.This year included attending national and international conferences such as the BSACI a...
27/12/2025

Here's a quick look back at 2025.

This year included attending national and international conferences such as the BSACI and EAACI, speaking at events, and spending time with colleagues across allergy, paediatrics and dietetics. I had the chance to host the Education Stage at the Allergy & Free From Show, appear on Gardener Ben’s podcast, and contribute to many articles and press. So it's certainly been busy!

Alongside all of that, clinic work continued as usual, supporting children and families day to day, and also all the important work done with reviewing national allergy guidelines at the BSACI SOCC.

Thank you to colleagues, collaborators and to everyone who follows, shares and asks thoughtful questions here. The engagement and conversations are always appreciated.

See you all in 2026!

Are new food allergies becoming more common in the UK?We’re starting to see more children reacting to foods that were pr...
20/12/2025

Are new food allergies becoming more common in the UK?

We’re starting to see more children reacting to foods that were previously uncommon in UK diets. It doesn’t mean allergies are suddenly “taking off” but simply that the foods we’re eating as families are changing, and so children’s immune systems are meeting new proteins for the first time.

At the 2025 EAACI Paediatric Allergy Meeting, a few ingredients came up repeatedly: goat’s milk, buckwheat, insect protein and even king crab. These reactions often happen because the immune system hasn’t seen these proteins before, or because they’re similar to allergens we already know well.

For parents, the main takeaway is simple:
If your child reacts to a food you weren’t expecting, it’s worth getting it checked. An early assessment helps us see the full picture, rule out cross-reactivity and guide you on what to avoid (and what’s still safe).

17/12/2025

I am going to be coming on here more often to break down any new developments in allergy research, and one study that caught my attention recently, which looks at a potential long-term approach to reducing severe allergic reactions.

Researchers in Toulouse have been testing a vaccine candidate called IgE-K, designed to help the immune system produce antibodies that neutralise IgE (the key molecule involved in anaphylaxis).
In early animal studies, two doses provided protection for at least a year.

Just to clarify something... the “K” here doesn’t stand for “killer”, it refers to kinoid technology, which is a treatment that allows the immune system to generate "natural" polyclonal antibodies.

It’s still early work, and human trials will be needed before we know how effective or practical this could be. But it’s an example of why I follow new findings closely: these are the kinds of developments that may help shape the future of allergy care!

Source: Reber et al., Toulouse Institute for Infectious & Inflammatory Diseases; New Scientist (2025)

Christmas is a time when peanuts and tree nuts appear in far more dishes than many parents expect, from desserts and cho...
15/12/2025

Christmas is a time when peanuts and tree nuts appear in far more dishes than many parents expect, from desserts and chocolates to stuffings and festive snacks.

It’s very common for families to discover an allergy for the first time at this time of year!

If your child has a known allergy, or you’re managing uncertainty, a few simple steps can make the festive period safer and far less stressful.

If you have any questions on navigating Christmas and allergies, leave them below 👇

Wishing all families a safe and happy festive season!

09/12/2025

More updates on this research as I have had so many questions about it...

After the initial mouse studies, researchers tested the VLP approach using blood from six children with peanut allergy. They combined the main peanut allergen, Ara h 2, with the VLPs and observed a shift away from a TH2-dominant (allergic) response towards a TH1-dominant response, which is associated with immune tolerance rather than reactivity.

They then moved to a small human study involving six adults with peanut allergy. During skin-prick testing with increasing concentrations of Ara h 2 bound to the VLPs, none showed any reactivity. This suggests that when the allergen is presented to the immune system via these particles, it may not trigger the typical allergic pathway.

Although very early, this indicates that VLPs could eventually offer a new, potentially safer method of retraining immune responses to food allergens.

What’s particularly interesting is that this technology isn’t limited to food allergy. VLPs are already being explored in areas such as cancer research, where their ability to stimulate precise immune responses may support future treatments!

As always, I will keep you all posted.

04/12/2025

Air pollution doesn’t just affect the lungs, it may also play a role in food allergy.

🌍 A groundbreaking study by Professor Stephen Holgate first revealed the strong link between air pollution and asthma, even contributing tragically to asthma-related deaths.

More recently, an Australian study published in December 2023 showed that exposure to nitrogen oxides and very fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in early childhood was linked not only to a higher incidence of peanut allergy, but also to its persistence into later childhood.

Children exposed to more pollution at around 1 year of age were significantly more likely to still have a peanut allergy at 6 years old.

This highlights yet another reason why reducing air pollution should remain a global priority, for respiratory health, and now also for allergy prevention!

For families, it also raises an important awareness point: living in less polluted areas may lower the risk of developing and keeping food allergies.

Any questions on this, please do feel free to ask below 👇

03/12/2025

Are you unsure whether your or your child’s reaction to food is an allergy or an intolerance? They are often confused, but the difference is important.

🩺 Food allergy:
An immune system reaction, usually to proteins. It can cause hives, swelling, vomiting, and in severe cases, anaphylaxis. This can be life-threatening and requires medical care.

🍴 Food intolerance:
A digestive system issue, often triggered by carbohydrates that the body struggles to process. It can cause bloating, cramps, or diarrhoea. Symptoms are uncomfortable, but not dangerous.

If you’re not sure which you or your child may have, the safest step is to:

✔️Keep a record of foods and symptoms
✔️Avoid self-diagnosing or cutting out major food groups without advice
✔️Speak to an allergy specialist for proper testing and guidance
✔️Getting the right diagnosis means safer choices, fewer worries, the best management plan, and above all, a better quality of life



There’s a new needle-free adrenaline option coming to the UK, and I want to talk about the logistics of it all. So many ...
01/12/2025

There’s a new needle-free adrenaline option coming to the UK, and I want to talk about the logistics of it all. So many of you may assume it will be more expensive than the traditional injectors.

EURneffy is the first adrenaline nasal spray for severe allergic reactions, and while a box costs around £180, it lasts much longer than standard adrenaline pens. Most injectors expire every 12 months, meaning families or the NHS often pay for replacements every year.
Because EURneffy has a shelf life of at least two years, the long-term cost can actually be lower.

It’s also far more temperature-stable, which makes it easier to carry in bags, cars and holidays without worrying about heat or cold affecting the mechanism, a common issue with traditional pens.

Early data shows it’s just as effective, and it is already available through UK pharmacies, with updated action plans already in development.

For many families, this could be a much simpler and more practical option for managing anaphylaxis. As soon as more information becomes available, I’ll share further updates.

27/11/2025

Recently, I shared early findings from a study exploring new approaches to inducing tolerance in peanut allergy. Here is a more detailed update...

The vegetable involved is cucumber.
Researchers are using a protein found in cucumber peel or the leaf to produce virus-like particles (VLPs).

VLPs are non-infectious structures. They are made from viral proteins that assemble into a shape that mimics a virus, but they contain no genetic material and cannot replicate. Because of this, they are already used in vaccines to help train the immune system safely.

In this study, the key peanut allergen Ara h 2 is attached to these cucumber-derived VLPs. The aim is to present the allergen to the immune system in a controlled way that encourages tolerance instead of an allergic response.

As I said before, it is still early research. However, it represents a potentially important future direction in food allergy immunotherapy, and I will continue to review and update as new evidence is released!

Many parents are surprised to learn that a food allergy doesn’t always appear the first time a food is eaten.In most cas...
24/11/2025

Many parents are surprised to learn that a food allergy doesn’t always appear the first time a food is eaten.

In most cases, the immune system needs time to “learn” that food protein before reacting, a process called sensitisation.
This can happen after the first few exposures, and sometimes even through the skin, especially in babies with eczema or a weakened skin barrier.

That’s why caring for your baby’s skin and introducing foods early and safely (usually between 4 and 6 months) both play a role in helping the immune system build tolerance instead of triggering an allergy.

Every child’s immune system has its own timeline, so always speak with your clinician for personalised advice, especially if your child is considered higher risk.

References:
Soumelis V et al., Nat Immunol 2002; Zhu TH et al., Br J Dermatol 2018;
Du Toit G et al., NEJM 2015 (LEAP Study); Perkin MR et al., NEJM 2016 (EAT Study).

20/11/2025

There’s exciting research underway looking at how we might teach the immune system to tolerate certain foods!

Two new studies are showing promise for peanut allergy in particular. One explores peptide immunotherapy, and another (which is still in Phase 3 trials) uses something called virus-like particles, created from a well-known vegetable. Any guesses what it could be?

Early results suggest this approach could help retrain the immune system and potentially reduce allergic reactions, not just to peanuts, but possibly to other nuts and foods too.

It’s still early days, but this kind of research gives us real hope for the future of allergy care. I’ll keep you updated as the data unfolds!

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