News

Guidance to be issued on food allergies

Health
The UK's first guidelines on how to diagnose food allergies in children have been drafted by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).

The NHS watchdog has published a consultation on the guidance, which advises early years workers to quickly investigate early indications of intolerance or allergy. It aims to support GPs and health practitioners in primary care and community settings to recognise the signs and symptoms of food allergy.

If an allergy is suspected, it recommends the GP take an allergy-focused clinical history to assess the child's condition. The guidelines say the condition should be considered if the child has a combination of skin conditions such as eczema, respiratory complaints, gastrointestinal problems, or anaphylaxis (a hyper-sensitive allergic reaction).

George Du Toit, a consultant in paediatric allergy at Guy's and St Thomas's Hospital in London, welcomed the guidance and encouraged people to submit their comments on best practice.

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