Allergies

(asked on 2nd May 2018) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve the detection and treatment of (a) food and (b) other allergies.


Answered by
Steve Brine Portrait
Steve Brine
This question was answered on 14th May 2018

No recent representations have been received.

Allergic diseases are amongst the most common diseases of Western society, affecting up to 30% of the United Kingdom population at some time in their lives.

Most allergy care takes place in primary care. People with a clear diagnosis, and mild but persistent symptoms, are usually managed in general practice. Some people with allergies, and the parents or carers of children and young people with allergies, also buy over-the-counter medicines from community or high-street pharmacies. However, if there is diagnostic doubt or symptoms of a more severe disease, general practitioners often consider referral for a specialist opinion

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) develops evidence based guidance to support clinicians in managing allergy and related disorders. NICE has published clinical guidelines guidance in this area covering food allergy in children and young people (2011); drug allergy (2014), anaphylaxis (2011); eczema (2007) and asthma (2017). In addition, NICE has produced a range of technology appraisals for drugs and interventions to relieve symptoms of the conditions as well as diagnostic assessment tools. All dedicated NICE allergy guidance can be found at the following link:

www.nice.org.uk/guidance/conditions-and-diseases/blood-and-immune-system-conditions/allergies#pathways

Clinical guidelines for asthma and eczema can be found at the following links:

www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng80

www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg57

Reticulating Splines