Food Allergies Treatment & Management
- Comprehensive allergen testing
- Personalised action plans keep your family safe
- Expert guidance for confident dining out experiences
- Safe introduction protocols for new foods
- Emergency management training for parents and carers
What Are
Food Allergies?
Food allergies occur when your immune system identifies certain foods as harmful substances, triggering an immune response that can range from mild discomfort to life-threatening anaphylaxis.
In Australia, food allergies affect approximately 1 in 20 children and 1 in 100 adults, with numbers continuing to rise. The most common food allergens include milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, wheat, soy, and sesame seeds, which account for roughly 90% of all allergic reactions.
Food allergies can develop at any age, though they often appear in early childhood. Some children may outgrow certain allergies, particularly to milk and eggs, whilst others, especially nut and shellfish allergies, tend to persist into adulthood.
Early identification through proper testing and professional management are crucial for maintaining your family’s safety and quality of life. With the right approach, families can confidently navigate daily life whilst effectively managing food allergies.
Recognising Food Allergy Symptoms
Food allergy symptoms can appear within minutes to two hours after exposure and range from mild discomfort to life-threatening anaphylaxis. Initial symptoms often affect the skin, presenting as hives, itching, or swelling of the lips or eyelids. Digestive symptoms including nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and stomach cramps commonly follow, whilst respiratory symptoms may include runny nose, sneezing, coughing, or wheezing.
Severe reactions can progress rapidly to anaphylaxis, characterised by difficulty breathing, widespread swelling, abdominal pain and vomitting, dizziness, and loss of consciousness. Children may become unusually quiet, clingy, or express a “sense of doom,” whilst infants might become pale and floppy. Symptoms can vary significantly between individuals and even between reactions in the same person, making it crucial to recognise early warning signs and respond appropriately. Any suspected allergic reaction should be taken seriously and emergency medical attention sought immediately.
Our Comprehensive Approach
Expert
Testing
Our comprehensive allergy assessment combines detailed medical history with gold-standard skin prick testing. Dr Susarla performs testing for multiple food allergens simultaneously, providing accurate results in a single visit. We test babies, children, and adults using age-appropriate techniques in a comfortable, professional environment.
Personalised
Management Plans
Every family receives a customised action plan tailored to their specific allergies, lifestyle, and risk factors.
Education &
Ongoing Support
We provide thorough education on allergen avoidance, label reading, cross-contamination prevention, and emergency management. Our ongoing support includes regular follow-ups, plan updates as children grow, and access to specialist networks when complex care is needed.
Our Treatment Process
Initial Consultation & History Review
Your journey begins with a comprehensive 60-minute consultation where Dr Susarla reviews your detailed medical history, current symptoms, previous reactions, and family allergy patterns. We discuss your concerns, lifestyle factors, and treatment goals to develop a complete understanding of your situation. This thorough assessment helps determine the most appropriate testing approach and ensures we address all your questions and concerns.
Comprehensive Allergy Testing
Using gold-standard skin prick testing, we accurately identify specific food triggers in a safe, controlled environment. Our testing covers all major allergens plus any specific foods of concern. The procedure is quick, relatively painless, and suitable for all ages including babies. Results are available within 20 minutes, allowing for immediate discussion and planning during your visit.
Results Analysis & Management Planning
Dr Susarla thoroughly explains your test results, discusses their clinical significance, and develops a comprehensive management plan tailored to your specific needs. This includes detailed emergency action plans, safe food guidelines, strategies for dining out, and recommendations for home and school environments. We ensure you understand every aspect of your care plan before leaving the clinic.
Ongoing Care & Support
Your relationship with Southern Allergy continues beyond the initial visit. We provide regular follow-up appointments to monitor your progress, adjust management plans as needed, and address new concerns. As children grow and allergies potentially change, we ensure your care remains current and effective. Access to our specialist networks ensures complex cases receive appropriate additional support when required.
Ready to Get Clear Answers About Food Allergies?
Book your comprehensive assessment today and take the first step towards confident food allergy management.
Emergency Management & Anaphylaxis Prevention
What We Provide:
- Emergency Action Plans: Personalised, detailed plans for recognising and responding to severe reactions
- EpiPen Training: Hands-on instruction for proper auto-injector use and timing
- School Communication: Professional letters and plans for educators and carers
- Travel Guidance: Strategies for managing allergies whilst travelling domestically and internationally
- Family Education: Training for all family members, including siblings and grandparents
Our emergency management training ensures you can respond quickly and appropriately, giving you peace of mind in all situations.
Safe Food Introduction
for Babies & Children
Introducing new foods to babies and children with food allergies requires expert guidance. Our evidence-based approach ensures safe introduction whilst monitoring for reactions.
Baby-Led
Introduction
Following current Australian guidelines, we provide personalised schedules for introducing allergenic foods to babies. Our approach balances early exposure benefits with safety protocols.
Progress
Monitoring
Regular testing and assessment track changes in your child’s allergic responses over time. We monitor for potential tolerance development, assess reaction severity changes, and adjust management plans accordingly, ensuring optimal safety and dietary freedom as your child grows.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Accurate Is Food Allergy Testing And What Does It Involve?
Food allergy testing at Southern Allergy uses skin prick testing, which is highly accurate (85-95%) when combined with clinical assessment. The procedure involves placing small drops of food allergen extracts on your forearm, making tiny pricks through each drop, and observing reactions after 15-20 minutes. Dr Susarla interprets results alongside your symptom history to determine clinical significance. We test for common allergens including milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, fish, wheat, soy, and sesame, as well as any specific foods of concern. Results are immediate, allowing for comprehensive discussion and management planning during your consultation. The test is safe, minimally uncomfortable, and suitable for all ages including babies.
Can Children Outgrow Food Allergies, And How Do We Monitor This?
Yes, many children outgrow certain food allergies, particularly milk and egg allergies. Approximately 80% of children with milk allergy develop tolerance by age 16, with many outgrowing it much earlier. Egg allergies follow similar patterns. However, peanut, tree nut, and shellfish allergies tend to persist into adulthood. We monitor potential tolerance development through regular follow-up appointments (typically every 6-12 months) with repeat testing to track changes in sensitivity levels. When results suggest possible tolerance, we may recommend medically supervised food challenges in our clinic, where small amounts of the allergen are given under close observation. Never attempt reintroduction at home without professional guidance, as reactions can be unpredictable.
How do I prepare my child for school with food allergies?
We provide comprehensive school preparation including detailed emergency action plans with clear instructions for staff, communication templates for teachers and canteen staff, training guidelines for managing reactions and EpiPen administration, safe food lists and meal alternatives, and strategies for excursions, camps, and special events. We recommend scheduling a meeting with school staff before term begins, providing photograph identification of your child, ensuring emergency medications are stored correctly and accessible, educating your child about their allergies in age-appropriate ways, and establishing regular communication channels with teachers. We also help you advocate for appropriate accommodations such as allergen-free zones in classrooms (for younger children) and peer education to promote understanding and inclusion whilst maintaining safety.
What should I do if my child has an allergic reaction?
For mild reactions (hives, stomach upset, mild swelling): give antihistamines as prescribed, stay with your child, monitor closely for 2-4 hours for progression, and contact us or your GP for follow-up advice. For severe reactions (difficulty breathing, throat swelling, vomiting, rapid pulse, pale/floppy appearance, loss of consciousness): administer EpiPen immediately into outer thigh, call 000 straight away, lay child flat (or sitting if breathing difficulty), give second EpiPen after 5 minutes if no improvement, and seek emergency medical care even if symptoms improve. Never delay EpiPen use hoping symptoms will resolve—early administration is crucial. After any reaction, schedule a follow-up appointment to review your action plan, replace used medications, and discuss prevention strategies.
How do I manage food allergies when dining out or travelling?
Dining out requires advance planning: research restaurants online and call ahead about allergen handling, speak directly with the chef or manager about your needs, clearly communicate specific allergies and cross-contamination concerns, choose simple dishes with fewer ingredients, consider bringing safe alternatives for children, and always carry emergency medications. For travel: research food labelling laws at your destination, learn key phrases in local language for allergen communication, carry medical letters from Dr Susarla explaining allergies, pack safe snacks and emergency medications in carry-on luggage, identify local hospitals and medical facilities beforehand, book accommodation with cooking facilities when possible, and consider travel insurance covering pre-existing conditions. We provide detailed travel checklists and restaurant communication cards in multiple languages.
What's the difference between food allergies and food intolerances?
Food allergies involve the immune system and can be life-threatening. They trigger rapid reactions (minutes to hours) affecting multiple body systems including skin (hives, swelling), digestive system (vomiting, diarrhoea), respiratory system (wheezing, breathing difficulty), and cardiovascular system (anaphylaxis). Even trace amounts can cause reactions, requiring complete avoidance. Food intolerances involve the digestive system’s inability to process certain foods, typically causing gastrointestinal symptoms like bloating, cramping, and diarrhoea. They’re generally not life-threatening, have delayed onset (hours to days), and small amounts may be tolerated. Common intolerances include lactose and FODMAPs. Proper testing distinguishes between the two, ensuring appropriate management—allergies require strict avoidance and emergency medications, whilst intolerances may allow flexibility in dietary restrictions.
When should I seek specialist care for food allergies?
Seek specialist assessment if: your child has experienced any severe allergic reactions requiring emergency treatment, you suspect food allergies based on symptoms following specific foods, you need accurate testing to identify trigger foods, current management isn’t adequately controlling symptoms, you require school or daycare action plans and staff training, you want guidance on safely introducing allergenic foods to babies, your child has multiple food allergies requiring complex management, you’re considering whether your child has outgrown allergies, you need supervised food challenges for reintroduction, or you require emergency medication prescriptions and training. Early specialist intervention provides accurate diagnosis, appropriate management strategies, and significantly improves safety and quality of life. Dr Susarla’s expertise ensures comprehensive care tailored to your family’s specific needs.