The new treatment that could change the lives of children with peanut allergies

5th January 2022

The new treatment that could change the lives of children with peanut allergies

Ask any parent what they want for their child, and they’ll likely tell you the exact same thing. All they want is for their child to be safe. But when that young person has a food allergy, keeping them safe becomes an even greater challenge.

It’s estimated that around 1 in 50 children have a peanut allergy, and it’s one of the most common food allergies. In fact, one study even found that almost 25% of kids could have the affliction. Going to any unfamiliar place can be a huge hurdle for people with peanut allergies. Every trip to a restaurant is fraught with danger. But a recent development could make living with this particular food allergy much simpler.

New treatment

Now, in the UK, a new oral treatment could reduce the severity of symptoms – including anaphylaxis. After an extensive two-year study, researchers found that Palforzia – the new treatment – could increase tolerance to food with peanuts in it.

The idea is to gradually decrease the sensitivity to peanuts over time. In one trial of the study, 67% of participants were able to ingest up to 600mg without any major problems. While it won’t eradicate the allergy, it means families could potentially eat out without fear of an anaphylactic shock or other life-threatening reactions.

Saving lives

Children in the UK will be some of the first in Europe to benefit from the new treatment after the NHS secured a deal for it. Up to 600 children aged 4 to 17 are expected to receive the treatment this year. Then there’ll be a further 2,000 every year after that. They’ll receive a monthly dose, building up tolerance slowly.

Professor Stephen Powis, NHS medical director, said: “It will reduce the fear and anxiety for patients and their families who may have been living with this allergy for years, and carrying around emergency medication just in case. They should be able to enjoy meals out or holidays abroad together without worrying about an allergic reaction that could land them in hospital or worse.”

“This first in Europe patient access deal is just one of a series of commercial agreements the NHS has secured for innovative treatments for patients over the past 18 months, while also treating thousands of people with COVID-19 as well as delivering the biggest and most successful vaccination programme in health history.”

It could be a huge turning point for the condition which causes huge worries in parents around the world. If you’re ever concerned about a potential peanut allergy, you can always talk to an allergy specialist. They will be able to find the right course of action for you.

To talk to one of our allergy experts, get in touch with us on 02031 433 449. You can also register as a new patient by following this link.

How to handle your contact dermatitis

26th May 2021

How to handle your contact dermatitis

If you have contact dermatitis, you’re probably more than familiar with that feeling of hot sandpaper being dragged over your skin that can arise simply from washing your hands. And in the past year, your skin is probably red raw after we were advised to sing happy birthday, not once, but twice, while scrubbing our palms to stop the spread of the virus.

Contact dermatitis can be extremely painful and cause real problems for sufferers. If you’re looking for ways you can help mend your dermatitis, we recommend talking to your doctor. Ask them what they can do for you.

Preventative measures 

The only effective way to treat contact dermatitis long term is to identify the trigger and avoid it. While steroids and other creams will definitely help, they don’t get to the root of the problem.

If you come in contact with any irritants, wash the area and dry it thoroughly. It’s much easier said than done, but avoid scratching the area. If you really can’t hold it any longer, rubbing or lightly slapping the affected area is a good middle ground. It offers relief but isn’t as damaging as scratching. 

Using a moisturiser or barrier cream is a fantastic preventative measure too. With regular application, the area stays moisturised, instead of turning dry, itchy, and painful. Just ensure it isn’t fragranced.

Treatments 

Your doctor or allergist will likely prescribe you a steroid cream and/or barrier cream. But here are some other treatments you can try. 

Contact dermatitis can often feel hot to the touch and a cold compress can provide relief. And for the days when you can’t stop yourself from scratching, over-the-counter antihistamines might help too. Though when it comes to medicine, we recommend talking to your doctor first.

Topically applying vitamin E to the affected area may help as it’s an anti-inflammatory and provides relief from itching. Honey can also be applied topically as it’s a powerful, natural antiseptic with antibacterial properties. Honey also keeps skin moist, but not oily. Again, anything applied topically can make it worse, especially if your dermatitis is severe, so consult with a specialist first.

Contact dermatitis can cause serious pain and discomfort. If you suspect you have contact dermatitis, get in touch with a doctor or allergist as soon as possible to prevent the condition from worsening.

Need help managing your contact dermatitis? Get in contact with the London Allergy and Immunology Centre today. Our team of experts can help you manage any allergies and regain control of your life. Call us now on 02031 433 449.

The number of children needing hospital treatment for allergies is rising

29th January 2020

The number of children needing hospital treatment for allergies is rising

Allergies aren’t a new phenomenon. However, their prevalence is on the rise. According to Benadryl, there are 21 million adults with allergies in the UK and the figure is rising by 5% each year. Around 7% of children have food allergies and this number is on the rise. 

The causes of allergies

Our understanding of what causes allergies is growing, but there are still many questions we need to answer. Scientists say it could be down to a combination of factors, including:

• Genetics
• Being too clean
• Diet during pregnancy
• Pollution

However, none of these theories can explain the prevalence of all allergies or the increase at present. 

Increasing hospital visits

The number of children who received hospital treatment for their allergies has increased by 65% across England. In 2013/14, 2,873 teenagers needed treatment. In 2017/18, this rose to 4,743. As well as this, the number of children being treated for anaphylactic shock has increased by 41% in the past five years. 

Is it more dangerous?

The large increase in hospital treatments largely affected teenagers. Allergy professionals speculated this is a time where parental control became increasingly relaxed as children grew up. They might not question their food in the same their way parents did. However, it’s hard to ignore the incidents where children with allergies are being endangered through no fault of their own. 

In 2017, a schoolboy died after having a severe reaction to cheese which was thrown at him in school. Children have reported being scared to go to school because of classmates and teachers who don’t take their allergies seriously. Some parents have taken their children out of school believing the schools aren’t doing enough to safeguard the children. 

This lack of understanding can be fatal and there needs to be a focus on allergy education in schools if we want to keep more children safe. This will be especially important if the number of allergy-related hospital visits keeps rising.

The London Allergy and Immunology Centre helps give children and parents peace of mind by diagnosing allergy symptoms and providing expert treatments and preventative methods. We want to help remove the burden of allergies, so book an appointment today.

EXPOSED: Minimise your allergy symptoms with the help of SLIT

8th January 2018

EXPOSED: Minimise your allergy symptoms with the help of SLIT

There are no two ways about it: allergies are not fun. Between a constant runny nose and crippling sneezing fits, with the addition of blotchy and itchy skin, these pesky reactions can be a nuisance. Fear not! There are a variety of solutions available to help you. Sublingual immunotherapy is a popular non-invasive solution.

Sublingual immunotherapy or desensitisation – otherwise known as SLIT – is a treatment that teaches the body not to react to allergens, allergic rhinitis (hay fever), or allergic asthma.

SLIT is a process that works by administration of the allergen under the tongue over a period of time. Doing so allows your immune system to change and “reconsider” the way it reacts to the allergen. Over time, when exposed to the same allergens, you experience reduced symptoms (if any at all).

An allergy consultant will make the initial diagnosis. This is usually done with an IgE test (blood test) or skin prick allergy test. This can ultimately determine what the patient is allergic to. Once established, sublingual immunotherapy can be considered if there are no contraindications. The process requires holding either a drop underneath your tongue that can be spat out. Alternatively, it can come in the form of a spray. Either form is a small extract of the allergen in question.

Further information

Studies suggest that the time it takes to be effective can depend entirely on the type of allergy. Saying that, it typically ranges between four and six months. The effect of treatment will last for more than five years if three years of treatment are completed. One trial’s results showed that if the treatment is stopped after only two years the effect varnishes the following year.

For perennial allergens (pet or dust mite allergy) the treatment needs to be continued for three years. While for hayfever desensitisation, it can either be non-stop or for 6 months per year. The latter is cheaper and starts four months before the pollen season.

Clinical trials show that SLIT is a safe solution and extremely effective for treating allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma. However, very infrequently it causes local side effects that almost always completely stop when the treatment starts to work (about two weeks), in the form tingling or slight swelling under the tongue that usually goes away. There were only a few cases in the world of severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) that mostly occurred when contraindications criteria were not met. While this is known to be extremely rare, it’s crucial the first dose of treatment is administered by the doctor in the centre before it can be administered by yourself.

Our consultants will be more than happy to discuss the treatment options available to help you improve the quality of life. Click here to book an appointment today to see if sublingual immunotherapy will benefit you.