The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has released consultation guidelines for diagnosing and treating food allergy in children and young people. Although long overdue these guidelines are most welcome. This document released this month highlights that in Europe and North America 6 – 8% of children under 3 years suffer with some form of IgE mediated food allergy. While only 25-40% of children with a self diagnosed food allergy will actually have a food allergy confirmed. The incidence of non-IgE food allergies is largely unknown due to the limited accurate diagnostic tests available. The guidelines stress that the clinical history of the food allergy taken by a competent practitioner is most important in diagnosing an allergy and allergy tests done in isolation can be misleading. Skin Prick tests and specific IgE testing on a blood sample are the most reliable food allergy tests available. Diagnosing food allergies and intolerances using Vega testing, applied kinesiology, hair analysis, leucocytotoxic testing and IgG blood tests are inaccurate and should be discouraged.
Reference: Food allergy in children and young people: Guideline consultation www.nice.org.uk
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-10925371
