Children's Allergy

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

Hay fever season is starting, and many people will already be noticing symptoms.🤧Starting treatment early and making sma...
23/04/2026

Hay fever season is starting, and many people will already be noticing symptoms.🤧

Starting treatment early and making small changes to reduce pollen exposure can make a significant difference.

✔️Nasal sprays - especially the ones that are steroid-based.

All are most effective when used proactively.

✔️Eye drops
✔️Antihistamines should only be taken when you have symptoms, and the other medication is not controlling them.

If symptoms are persistent or affecting sleep and daily life, it may be worth discussing a longer-term plan with an allergist!

Any questions, leave them in the comments!

20/04/2026

Many parents are still told to avoid allergens for as long as possible...

But current research shows that, in some cases, introducing foods early and in a structured way can actually help children outgrow allergies.

In clinic, I often see children who are able to safely reintroduce foods with the right guidance.

Every child is different, but avoiding foods forever is not always the best approach! If you have any questions let me know.

The allergy world is changing, and some advice parents were given years ago no longer reflects current research...We now...
13/04/2026

The allergy world is changing, and some advice parents were given years ago no longer reflects current research...

We now know that introducing allergens such as egg and peanut during the first year of life may help reduce the risk of developing food allergy.

Mild rashes around the mouth during feeding are also not always a true allergy and are often simple irritation.

Treatment is evolving as well.
Emerging research in oral immunotherapy suggests that lower-dose approaches may achieve similar tolerance with fewer side effects.

Allergy advice changes because research evolves. My aim here is to share the latest evidence so families can make informed decisions.

10/04/2026

Exciting Announcement📣 We will soon be introducing sublingual immunotherapy for food allergies at our London clinic!

This treatment, which is already widely used for airborne allergens such as pollen and house dust mites, will soon also be available for selected food allergies.

Sublingual immunotherapy involves placing small amounts of allergen under the tongue, and it is known for having fewer side effects than some other forms of immunotherapy.
The programme will be available for patients aged 4 years and older.

For children under 4, oral immunotherapy remains the preferred approach. We expect to begin offering this treatment from April!

If you are an adult interested in food immunotherapy or a parent exploring options for your child, you can contact the London clinic for further information or to arrange an appointment.

Book here: https://www.thechildrensallergy.co.uk/contact/

Most people wouldn’t connect lipstick with shellfish allergy, but in rare cases, there can be a link.💄Some cosmetics and...
07/04/2026

Most people wouldn’t connect lipstick with shellfish allergy, but in rare cases, there can be a link.💄

Some cosmetics and foods contain cochineal (carmine), a red dye made from insects. It’s used in products like lipsticks, blushers, sweets and drinks.

Insects and shellfish can share similar allergenic proteins. Because of this, people with crustacean allergies (such as to shrimp or crab) may occasionally react to insect-derived ingredients.

This is uncommon, and most reactions to cosmetics are actually caused by irritation or fragrance, not food allergy. But if someone with a known shellfish allergy has unusual reactions to certain products, it may be worth discussing with an allergy specialist.

Allergies can sometimes appear in unexpected places, which is why proper assessment is important!

04/04/2026

One of the interesting things about travelling is seeing how allergies vary across different parts of the world. 🌎

Here in Spain, airborne allergies are often linked to pollens such as cypress and olive trees, rather than the grass and tree pollens we commonly see in the UK.

This difference helps explain why conditions such as pollen food syndrome and lipid transfer protein (LTP) allergy are much more common in Southern Europe. LTP allergies, including reactions to the peach protein Pru p 3, can sometimes cause symptoms even when fruits or vegetables are cooked, which is not typical of classic pollen food syndrome.

What is particularly important is that patterns are beginning to change. With shifts in climate and pollen exposure, some of these allergy patterns are becoming more relevant in Northern Europe as well.

Allergies do not always behave the same way everywhere, and understanding local patterns can help explain symptoms that might otherwise seem unusual.

🐣Easter can be a high-risk time for families managing food allergies. Celebrations often revolve around chocolate, share...
01/04/2026

🐣Easter can be a high-risk time for families managing food allergies.

Celebrations often revolve around chocolate, shared meals and Easter egg hunts, which can increase the chance of accidental exposure to allergens.

For many parents, this can understandably feel stressful.

However, a few practical steps can make celebrations much safer:

👀Checking labels carefully
🍬Bringing safe treats
✏️ Planning ahead for gatherings or egg hunts

The goal is not to remove children from these celebrations, but to help them participate safely and confidently.

28/03/2026

Although I see many patients with food allergies in clinic, including performing food challenges and offering oral immunotherapy, my main clinical interest has always been airborne allergies!

These include allergies to grass pollen, tree pollen, w**d pollen, house dust mites and animal dander such as cat, dog or horse.

Part of this interest is personal.
Many years ago, I had quite severe airborne allergies myself, particularly to tree pollen. After undergoing immunotherapy, my symptoms improved significantly, and I no longer need medication for them.

My own son lives with several food allergies, including peanut and tree nut allergies. Experiences like these definitely shape how I approach allergy care.

For me, the focus has always been the same. Evidence first. Research first. Everything I discuss here and everything I practise in clinic is grounded in the latest scientific evidence.

https://www.thechildrensallergy.co.uk

Can someone be allergic to crab and lobster, but tolerate certain prawns? In some cases, yes.Seafood allergy is more com...
25/03/2026

Can someone be allergic to crab and lobster, but tolerate certain prawns? In some cases, yes.

Seafood allergy is more complex than many people realise. Fish, crustaceans and molluscs are biologically distinct groups, and even within crustaceans, the allergenic proteins can vary between species. While proteins such as tropomyosin are shared and often lead to cross-reactivity, this overlap is common but not universal.

Fish allergy is different again, usually driven by parvalbumin, and even here, protein variation between species can influence clinical reactions.

This is why assumptions about “all shellfish” are not always accurate. Tolerance to one species does not guarantee tolerance to another, but equally, a reaction to one does not automatically mean all must be avoided.

If you are travelling and unsure about seafood, do not experiment without medical advice!

20/03/2026

There’s been a really important development in peanut allergy treatment that parents should know about.

A recently published study looked at peanut sublingual immunotherapy in very young children aged 1 to 4 years. Instead of swallowing peanut, tiny amounts are given under the tongue. The results were striking.

Most children were able to build tolerance with minimal side effects, and what’s particularly interesting is that many were still able to tolerate peanut even after stopping treatment for a period of time. Around two-thirds maintained tolerance when peanut was reintroduced later on.

Age mattered. The strongest outcomes were seen in children aged 1 to 2 years, reinforcing what we’re learning more broadly in allergy care: earlier intervention can make a real difference.

This doesn’t replace current treatments, and it’s not something families should try on their own. But it’s a promising step forward and something I’m watching closely as part of the evolution of food allergy treatment.

As always, I’ll keep sharing updates as the evidence develops.

Parents are often worried about introducing allergenic foods to their baby. Current UK guidance is actually the opposite...
16/03/2026

Parents are often worried about introducing allergenic foods to their baby. Current UK guidance is actually the opposite of what many people used to hear.

Introducing common allergenic foods during the first year of life may help reduce the risk of developing food allergy.

This includes foods such as egg, peanut, milk, wheat, tree nuts, soy, sesame, fish and shellfish. These should be introduced in age-appropriate forms once your baby is developmentally ready for solids, usually around 6 months of age and not before 4 months.

Babies at high risk of developing allergies should have allergens introduced between 4 and 6 months of age.
These are the ones with eczema, older siblings with allergies, or a strong family history of atopy.

Delaying egg or peanut in particular may increase the risk of allergy.

Source: British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology (BSACI) food allergy prevention guidance for parents.

13/03/2026

It feels like the right time to reintroduce myself, especially as so many of you have joined recently!

I am Dr José Maia Costa, a Consultant Paediatrician in Allergy and Immunology. Although my background is in paediatrics, I also see adults in clinic.

I aim to share clear, evidence based information and discuss the latest research in allergy and immunology. Much of what I post links to recently published studies, sometimes from the last few years and sometimes from the last few weeks.

If you have questions, feel free to ask!

Address

The Chase, Old Milverton Lane
Leamington Spa
CV326RW

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 3pm
Tuesday 9am - 3pm
Wednesday 9am - 3pm

Telephone

+447949990798

Website

https://allerpack.co.uk/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Children's Allergy posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Children's Allergy:

Shortcuts

Share

Category