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Dr Du Toit has a research interest specifically in the field of Food Allergy and is able to offer the latest diagnostic tests for the investigation thereof.
Background Information re Food Allergy:
IgE-mediated food allergies, also known as immediate-onset food allergies, are most prevalent during childhood, affecting between 6 and 8% of children in the UK.
 Cow’s milk, hen's egg, peanut, tree nut, sesame, wheat, soya, and kiwi are responsible for the majority of food-induced allergic reactions in young children. As not all food allergies are outgrown, finned fish, shellfish, tree nut and peanut allergies are the more common allergies in adulthood. Cross-reactive allergic reactions in pollen-allergic children and adults are common and known as the Oral Allergy Syndrome (OAS). An example of this syndrome is the teenager allergic to birch pollen and who experiences oropharyngeal tingling when eating an apple.
Increasing prevalence of Food Allergy
It is widely believed that the prevalence of food allergy is on the increase. This is best demonstrated by studies of peanut allergy, which suggest an increased prevalence among high-risk infants, as well as children in the general population with a hereditary predisposition to allergy in some form. Peanut and tree nut allergies are troublesome food allergies as they are infrequently outgrown and are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. In addition, studies of adults and children with peanut allergy suggest a high co-prevalence of tree nut and sesame allergies. Early reports also suggest an increase in the prevalence of 'novel allergies' to foods, such as kiwi and sesame.
Diagnosis of Food Allergy A diagnosis of food allergy is important as it facilitates the avoidance of the relevant food allergen/s and the implementation of an appropriate management plan. Conversely, a diagnosis ruling out food allergy allows for safe dietary expansion. Such a diagnosis may also lead to more appropriate diagnostic  Common symptoms of food-induced allergies include rashes (hives, eczema, erythematous rashes), swelling (also called angioedema), gut pain and vomiting, itchy red eyes and runny nose, wheezing, and very occasionally anaphylaxis. To view a list of the food allergies we commonly test for, click here.
Food Allergen Labelling in the EU and UK
Please click on the following links below for more on specific food allergies:  Nuts (Peanut and Tree Nuts) allergy Seeds (sesame, poppy, linseed, flax-seed, poppy, mustard)allergy Seafood (fin-fish, shellfish, Mollusk) allergy Cereal Grain (Wheat, Rye, Barley, Oat, Quinoa, Buckwheat) allergy  Celery (Celeriac) allergy Fruit allergy, including Oral Allergy Syndrome and kiwi allergy Legumes allergy Lupine allergy
If you would like to read more by Dr Du Toit on Food Allergy please click here!
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Food Allergy |
