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The allergy world is waking up to articles all over the news, focusing on a report titled 'Making Sense of Allergies' released by Sense About Science today.

The report focuses on how allergies need to be accurately diagnosed, with proven scientific based testing. The risk of not doing this, can result in malnourishment in supposed allergy sufferers. Allergists, consultants and allergy charities have worked with Sense About Science to bring the report together.

Bogus home testing kits are being blamed as the root cause of the issue, as they have no scientific basis.

The supposed outcomes from these kits are resulting in major food groups being cut out of diets, causing the serious issue of malnutrition.

ITV's 'Good Morning Britain', The Guardian, and The Telegraph are the key articles doing the rounds this morning, with the article from The Telegraph seeming to ruffle the most feathers within the allergy world.

The tone of the article suggests that allergies are nowhere near as prevalent as believed, due to:

'40% of people claim to have a food allergy, only 5% actually do'

and follows swiftly with:


'Cutting out entire food groups because of needless concerns about allergies'

This has understandably caused a fairly substantial wave of anger for true allergy sufferers. 

In just a few short hours I have received numerous emails and texts asking what my views are, and whether it is a 'fair' representation. 

Any allergy parent will tell you that concerns about allergies are most certainly not 'needless'. Watching your little ones suffer a reaction is the hardest thing to witness. Hives, wheezing, vomiting, extreme diarrhoea, eczema are all symptoms of a reaction, and not to be taken lightly. Add the struggle to breathe if entering anaphylaxis territory and it becomes terrifying.

The Guardian on the other hand has got a much more balanced and fairer handle of the situation:


'It's probably the biggest mess for science communication, where myths, misinterpreted studies and quackery collide with under-and over - diagnosis. The costs are huge - unnecessary actions for some and not enough action for those whose lives depend on it' (Tracey Brown, Director of Sense About Science)

although their comment of:


'A child who can't eat wheat or drink milk can't go to parties'

is totally inaccurate! Why on earth would true allergies to wheat and dairy result in being unable to attend parties? If sensible, and you plan ahead, of course a child can still attend parties, as I describe how to achieve successfully here

The article also mentions how eating out has become much more difficult. Chefs find it much harder to cater easily for allergy sufferers due to the fact that many people claim to have an allergy, when actually it is a life style choice. 

This was a very hot topic a couple of months ago with the 'Top 100 chefs'. Living first hand with allergies, I can see both sides. It's not easy for restaurants to cater for allergies, but training and understanding helps enormously. Equally, it's not easy to eat out without worrying where the next reaction will come from.

Fuel has been added to the already raging allergy fire following the comments made by Dr Hilary Jones during Good Morning Britain:


'Don't assume that your symptoms are due to allergy or intolerance. You can go and talk to your doctor, and if there is a clinical reason, have a blood test on the NHS. Don't restrict or withdraw all kinds of food groups'

Oh dear, if only it was that easy!

The NHS will not give blood tests just by asking, believe me, I tried for 16 months before I was able to get them done for Callum.

As to restricting/ withdrawing food groups - when you first see your doctor and query allergies/ intolerance, the first thing you are asked to do is keep a food diary. If a pattern starts to show, you are then asked to remove from your diet. At no point is a blood test agreed to - nor any allergy testing!

Unfortunately, this whole sorry situation is most likely due to the lack of understanding, and also sadly budget, within the NHS.

It is the result of desperate parents, who are battling to get listened to! They describe their children's symptoms, to no avail, attending doctor appointment after doctor appointment, presenting in secondary care (often as an emergency) and still don't get anywhere.

Groupon regularly advertise 'food intolerance testing' at a supposed massive reduction. If a desperate parent, sleep deprived, and worried beyond belief for their little one, the chances are they will resort to anything to find some sort of solution!

The key to turning all of this around, as I have said many many times before, is to provide the NHS with the tools to fix this situation.
They need to have a bigger budget so that correct, accurate and scientifically proven testing can take place. The doctors, consultants, dieticians, nutritionists, health visitors all need to have extra training provided to them so that they recognise the symptoms associated with allergies.

I applaud the release of this report from Sense About Science. It is much needed, and gives a true depiction of what is happening within the allergy world. 

I really hope that the situation can now be improved, and that the NHS gets the support it needs to support the allergy world where it needs it most! 

Comments   

0 # Guest 2015-06-05 12:19
I think you are spot on with this, especially your key suggestion. It's all such a mess at the moment with different health officials telling you different things which, as a first time mum - let alone first time telling with food issues - I found completely overwhelming. It was desperation that made me start cutting things out of her diet.
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0 # The Intolerant Gourmand 2015-06-09 11:20
I think you've absolutely hit the nail on the head there Tara! The differing of opinions within the NHS is so extreme. You're told one thing by one GP, the complete opposite by another..... it's hard to know who to listen to at times! As you say, it becomes a knee-jerk reaction to trying to fix a problem that is essentially a total unknown until you happen to stumble on the cause through a process of elimination!
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0 # Guest 2015-06-05 13:45
Very good! Now you should send it to Cameron and the health secretary! Xx

Sent from my iPad

>
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0 # The Intolerant Gourmand 2015-06-09 11:18
If only it were that simple! I would welcome the chance to meet them and explain where things could drastically improve with far less budget than people think is required!
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0 # Guest 2015-06-06 18:46
Great article. Well doe Nat. So true...the state of allergy understanding in the nhs is appalling. When my daughter was diagnosed with dairy and egg allergy it was after a lot of heartache...and getting a coeliac diagnosis was a whole lot more. The fact that Dr's are happy to diagnose ibs for any tummy problems needs to change. I gave up with the nhs long ago for me.
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0 # The Intolerant Gourmand 2015-06-06 23:17
Thank you Hun! I'm absolutely determined to change the way the NHS sees allergies, something needs to be done to stop this needless suffering! x
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0 # Guest 2015-06-07 11:53
This is a worrying situation. I totally understand why parents are buying such kits when the NHS response can often be too leave children on Movicol and or just call symptoms IBS. I also think it is ridiculous to simply blame malnutrition down to omitting food groups. The children's food market is worth billions and full of highly processed sugar laden food often with a high carb component. This is a much bigger cause of malnutrition in children but too many big businesses are starting to see a reduction in sales due to food intolerances etc so let's attack the parents who often have no other choice.

Personally we have been very lucky and advised by an educated (in this field) pedetrician but this has been one individual in a many and it has been very hard work to get answers and eventually with my youngest we had to go outside the NHS and pay for tests that have only just become available in the UK. But it is only because I have spent so much time looking and researching in this area because if my own health issues that we did this.

I think it smells of wider corporate interest when these stories are published in such a blanket form. Where does it leave parents? Feeling more confused, guilty and perhaps reintroducing food that could be damaging to their child's long term health. Food allergies and intolerances are notoriously hard to dx I'd love to see how the research in this case was done. Given that the average Coeliac dx in the NHS takes 10 years!

Great post. Thank you for highlighting this.
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0 # The Intolerant Gourmand 2015-06-09 11:17
Thank you for your wonderful comments! It is a worrying situation indeed, and you're right, it's easy to see how desperate parents will do anything to help their children if the NHS has been unable to provide the necessary treatment for whatever reason.

I completely agree with the sugar content issue for food marketing directly at children, and it is something we should definitely all sit up and take note about.

I'm so sorry to hear that you have also had a fight on your hands for diagnosis, and thank goodness you were able to get advise from a trusted source!

Fingers crossed the situation within the NHS starts to improve so that others don't have to endure the suffering our little ones have gone through!
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0 # Guest 2015-06-07 12:13
I also think it is appalling a national paper can state 'a child can't go to parties!' Crazy.
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0 # The Intolerant Gourmand 2015-06-09 11:13
Thankfully we are all able to find a way around the problem - parties are a must, whether issues with allergies are to be considered or not!
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0 # Guest 2015-07-06 10:06
How about doing a cell test to diagnose allergies?
http://www.creative-diagnostics.com/Biological-Services.htm
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0 # AlbertX 2015-11-28 02:05
Test
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0 # AlbertX 2015-11-28 02:08
Test 2
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0 # AlbertX 2015-11-28 02:12
test3
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