Paediatric allergists

What is paediatric allergy & immunology?

A paediatric allergist and immunologist is a type of doctor who is trained in the prevention, diagnosis, management and treatment of allergic diseases, including allergies, childhood asthma, and autoimmune diseases in children (usually 16 and under). Your child may be referred to an allergist if your doctor believes that their medical problem is related to the immune system . They provide specialist care for children, recognising that children cannot always explain what feels wrong. The goal of paediatric allergists and immunologists is to identify the causes of allergies or immune disorders, provide treatment or management of symptoms and to improve the child’s quality of life and their health.

What conditions does a paediatric allergist & immunologist treat?

The diseases and conditions treated by a paediatric allergist and immunologist include:

Food allergies (e.g. cow’s milk protein allergy, lactose, egg, peanut)
Skin allergies (e.g. eczema, atopic dermatitis, urticaria)
Respiratory problems (e.g. asthma, hay fever, sinusitis)
Severe allergic reactions to food, medicines or insect stings (anaphylaxis)
Immune disorders (symptoms may include thrush, abscesses, diarrhoea, recurrent infections)

Which subspecialties are included under paediatric allergy & immunology?

Paediatric allergy and immunology is in fact a subspecialty in itself, and is a subspecialty of paediatrics. However, paediatric allergists and immunologists can choose to focus their area of study or interest on allergic reactions, food allergies, respiratory problems, food intolerances or immune disorders.

When should you see a paediatric allergist & immunologist?

You should take your child to see a paediatric allergist and immunologist if they are experiencing recurrent infections, diarrhoea, thrush or abscesses. These symptoms may indicate an underlying immune disorder. Your child should also be seen by a paediatric allergist and immunologist if they experience allergic reactions to any substances, develop skin rashes that resemble eczema, or if they are sneezing and coughing a lot.

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Paediatric allergists

Professor George Du Toit

Dr Robert Boyle

Dr Adam Fox

Dr Helen Cox

What is paediatric allergy & immunology?

What conditions does a paediatric allergist & immunologist treat?

Which subspecialties are included under paediatric allergy & immunology?

When should you see a paediatric allergist & immunologist?