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Paediatric allergy
- Expert care from leading specialists
- Dedicated paediatric service
- A safe and reassuring environment for your child
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PAEDIATRIC ALLERGY AT HCA UK
Why choose us?
Allergies are extremely common in children, which is why we offer a paediatric allergy clinic based at The Portland Hospital in London. Whether your child’s allergy is mild or severe, our expert paediatricians are here to help. We understand the impact an allergy can have on a child’s daily life and the distress a more serious allergy can cause, so our consultants will provide a quick diagnosis, personalised treatment and work with you to create an allergy management plan that’s tailored to your child.
An allergic reaction happens when your child’s immune system overreacts to a particular substance, such as a food or pollen. This is known as an allergen. The body's immune system treats the allergen as an invader and reacts, resulting in allergy symptoms. About 40%* of children in the UK have at least one allergy.
*Source: Gupta et al, Burden of allergic diseases in the UK, Clin Exp Allergy 34(4), 2004
The most common triggers of allergies include:
- Dust mites
- Pollen
- Pets
- Food, such as dairy, eggs or peanuts
- Certain drugs
- Latex
If you’re concerned that your child has an allergy, our paediatric allergy specialists are here to help by providing comprehensive testing and a diagnosis. Parents and guardians play a key role in helping to manage a child’s allergy, so they’ll work with you to create an allergy management plan.
Our team also offers a desensitisation service to help manage allergic rhinitis symptoms. This is when an allergen, such as pollen, irritates the nose and causes sneezing and other symptoms.
If your child has an allergy, they may experience:
- A runny nose or sneezing
- Red, itchy or watery eyes
- Itchy skin or hives (a rash with a raised appearance)
- Coughing, wheezing or breathlessness
- Swelling, especially around the eyes, lips, mouth and throat
- Diarrhoea, nausea or vomiting
No. 1
The only UK private hospital dedicated to treating women and children
9
level 3 intensive care beds for the highest levels of care
40,000
babies, children and young people cared for each year
Next-day appointments
Access to a consultant within 24 hours
State-of-the-art diagnostics
With results in as little as 48 hours
Specialist treatments for complex conditions
We focus our breadth of expertise on your child
Allergy services
We treat your child, not their condition
We believe every child deserves highly personalised care, focused on their specific needs, no matter how complex. When you meet with one of our consultants for an initial review, their priority will be diagnosing your child’s allergy quickly so they can rule out anything serious.
We offer a nurse-led clinic for diagnostic testing, which is run by our dedicated clinical nurse specialists. Your consultant or GP can refer your child for tests.
We might also ask you to keep a food diary to help us understand what triggers your child’s allergies. Keeping a food diary and taking photos can support your child’s diagnosis and help us to paint a wider and more detailed picture of their condition.
We offer a comprehensive range of allergy tests, including:
Skin prick test for allergies
From complex surgery to straightforward procedures, we provide exceptional care across our network of hospitals, outpatient centres and specialist clinics.
Spirometry Test
A simple non-invasive test of lung capacity and lung function. Spirometry is a common diagnostic test used to assess how quickly you can move air into and out of your lungs.
IgE blood tests
Immunoglobin (IgE) is an antibody that fights foreign bodies. Measuring your child’s IgE levels allows us to see if they’re elevated generally or whether they rise in relation to specific allergens.
Food challenge testing
From complex surgery to straightforward procedures, we provide exceptional care across our network of hospitals, outpatient centres and specialist clinics.
Drug allergy testing in children
The Portland Hospital runs testing for children who may have a reaction to a medication, testing is carried out in a safe, supervised, friendly environment.
MEET THE TEAM
Meet Professor Helen Brough and Clinical Nurse Specialist Mel Davies, our allergy specialists
What allergies can we test for? How do we test for them? And, more importantly, does it hurt?
Join Artie, Nkanyezi, Reeva and Priya as they go behind the scenes to get answers to these all-important questions from Professor Helen Brough and Clinical Nurse Specialist Mel Davies.
LOCATIONS
Where can my child have treatment for their allergy?
When your child needs help with their allergy, we’re here for them – and you – with our state-of-the-art facilities and specialist clinic at The Portland Hospital.
The Portland Hospital
205-209 Great Portland Street W1W 5AH London
Accessing private health care
Self-pay
You don’t need health insurance for your child to be seen quickly. If you’re looking for a diagnosis or treatment and don’t want to wait, all of our private healthcare services – from private GP appointments through to surgery and aftercare – can be paid for as and when you need them.
And we’ll give you a clear and transparent quote from the start, outlining exactly what’s included in your self-pay package.
Your questions answered
If an allergen isn’t identified or properly managed, it can lead to anything from a sniffle to more serious reactions, so our specialists will work with you to create a plan for treating and managing your child’s allergies. This could include prescription medication, such as antihistamines, inhalers, or AAI (adrenaline auto-injectors), which are used to treat anaphylaxis.
The most common triggers of food allergies include:
- Nuts, such as peanuts and walnuts
- Cow’s milk
- Hen’s eggs
- Soya
- Wheat
- Seeds, such as sesame seeds
- Fish and shellfish, such as pawns and crab
The good news is that most children will outgrow their food allergy, especially if they’re allergic to cow’s milk, hen’s eggs and wheat. However, nuts, fish and shellfish allergies tend to continue into adulthood and most are lifelong.
Yes, we can. Our Paediatric Intensive Care Unit at The Portland Hospital has nine beds, each providing Level 3 intensive care, which is the highest level of critical care offered.
“Professor Helen Brough was so understanding and knowledgeable when it came to my daughter’s eczema. Her team were always very fast in responding to any queries or requests. I’ve felt at ease knowing that my daughter is under their care.”
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This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.