Our Services

Prior to your consultation we will require that you complete a pre-consultation questionnaire. This will enable us to ensure that your appointment is time effective as well as ensuring appropriate sharing of information.

Suspected Allergy & Intolerance

We have experience in Immunoglobulin E (IgE) allergy, Non-Immunoglobulin E (Non-IgE) allergy and intolerances.

All types of allergy and intolerance are difficult to diagnose and children often present with a combination of IgE and Non-IgE symptoms (listed below). If your child shows any symptoms of an allergy or intolerance, we can provide initial safety advice, dietary recommendations and signpost you to testing if appropriate.

Intolerance and Non-IgE Allergy

Non-IgE food allergies are caused by a reaction involving other components of the immune system apart from IgE antibodies and involve the gastrointestinal tract. The reaction can be up to 72 hours after ingesting a food and involve symptoms such as:

• Red or itchy skin (not raised)
• Diarrhoea
• Constipation
• Stomach cramps
• In younger children they may be unable to settle and/or be crying excessively

As there are no blood tests or skin tests which have a good evidence base, diagnosis involves exclusion and reintroduction of the suspect food in a stepwise manner in order to ensure all nutritional requirements are met whilst excluding particular foods. We can support you to identify and maintain your child’s level of tolerance with the aim of increasing this over time.

IgE allergy

IgE-mediated allergy means that IgE antibodies are involved, the reaction is usually within minutes, at most within 2 hours. Symptoms include:

• Raised, itchy red rash (hives/nettle sting type rash
• Tingling or itching in mouth
• Swelling of face, mouth, throat or other areas
• Difficulty swallowing
• Wheezing
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea and hayfever-like symptoms

Anaphylaxis

This is the most severe reaction, can occur suddenly and can worsen quickly. Initial symptoms are often the same as those listed above and will progress to having breathing difficulties, being unable to swallow or speak and fainting/collapse. This is a MEDICAL EMERGENCY - you should dial 999 and quote ‘anaphylaxis’.

All types of allergy and intolerance can be difficult to diagnose and children often present with a combination of symptoms and may also have a combination of both Non-Ige and IgE mediated allergic reactions. If your child is showing symptoms of an allergy or intolerance, we can provide initial safety advice, dietary recommendations and signpost you to testing if appropriate.

Paediatric Nutrition

‘Paediatric nutrition’ is a term used to describe the expertise required to use food to ensure all nutritional needs are met allowing appropriate growth and development.

If children do not receive adequate nutrition or are unable to absorb nutrients effectively they may suffer from nutrient deficiencies and malnutrition. In children we often see: Calcium deficiency, Iron deficiency anaemia, Vitamin D deficiency and lack of Fibre.

Inadequate nutrition can be caused by several factors including prematurity, reduced appetite, intolerance/allergy, cardiac problems, a pre-existing health condition or an unknown cause.

We can support you to ensure your child is meeting their nutritional requirements to grow and develop as expected.

Weight Management

We understand that managing weight is difficult and emotive for all and are committed to supporting you and your child with dietary changes to support achieving a healthy weight for height.

Being overweight or obese as a child can have detrimental long-term effects such as developing type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and heart disease.

Research has shown that children who are a healthy weight tend to be fitter, healthier, better able to learn and more self-confident.

As a parent or carer it is often difficult to have conversations around weight and even more difficult to know where to start when you wish to make a positive change.

We can support you and your family to make these positive changes and provide a clear, concise plan along with written information and useful resources.

We recommend a course of appointments for this as per NICE guidelines and can advise not only on dietary changes but also ways of increasing physical activity levels.