Allergy care pathway for food allergy

Food allergy is defined as a reaction to food. This is one of several allergy care pathways, which tell health professionals what they need to know in order to provide the best care possible.

About

The College's care pathway for food allergy is presented in two parts:

  • an algorithm with the stages of ideal care, and
  • a set of competences required to diagnose, treat and optimally manage anaphylaxis.

The algorithm has numbers which correspond to the competences outlined within the body of the document.

We recommend that this pathway is implemented locally by a multidisciplinary team, with a focus on creating networks between staff in primary and community healthcare, social care, education and hospital based practice to improve services for children with allergic conditions. All specialists should have paediatric training.

Definition

Food Allergy is defined as an immune-mediated hypersensitivity reaction to food and may be divided into Immunoglobulin E (IgE) mediated (immediate-onset) reactions and non IgE-mediated (delayed-onset) reactions.