Food allergies double but treatment is falling short with lack of epi pens for patients

Many people severely at risk aren't even being prescribed adrenaline autoinjector pens

The number of people with a food allergy in the UK has more than doubled since 2008, with the largest increase being in young children.

I think this is because the news that babies should eat all potentially allergy-inducing foods before the age of 12 months hasn’t reached parents.

Doing so allows an infant’s ­developing immune system to cope normally with potentially allergic foods and not react allergically if the food is introduced later.

The analysis by Imperial College London found up to 4% of pre-school aged children have a food allergy, while rates in adults are around 1%.

It’s no longer recommended delaying the introduction of foods like peanuts into the baby’s diet.

In children at higher risk of food allergy, such as those with baby eczema, earlier introduction of eggs and peanuts are now standard ­recommendations.

The other interesting stat emerging from the research is many people with a previous severe food allergy – who suffer anaphylaxis, which can cause swelling of the airways, breathing ­difficulties and cardiac arrest if not treated promptly – aren’t being prescribed adrenaline autoinjector pens, which can be lifesaving.

Most patients with a food allergy, including those with previous ­anaphylaxis, are being seen only in general practice with as few as 10% being seen by a hospital specialist. Clearly GPs and other primary care staff should be adequately trained and supported to care for people at risk of severe food allergy.

Dr Paul Turner, Professor of ­Paediatric Allergy at Imperial College London, who led the research, said: “We urgently need to address this, and better support GPs and primary care staff who end up looking after the vast majority of food-allergic patients in the UK. More than one-third of patients at risk of severe reactions do not carry potentially lifesaving rescue adrenaline autoinjectors, like EpiPens.”

Prescriptions for adrenaline autoinjectors in those with previous anaphylaxis were estimated to be at 64% for children and young people, and just 55% for adults.

Prescriptions were also less common for people living in more deprived areas of the country.

Food allergy occurs when the immune system overreacts to certain foods, such as cows’ milk, peanuts, eggs and shellfish.

Professor Turner added: “Food allergy can have a huge impact on people’s lives, and in some tragic cases, can cut lives short.

“By better understanding the ­prevalence of food allergy in the UK and working with affected people, their families, scientists and ­clinicians, we are working together to reduce that impact.”