For emergency treatment of a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) it is important to promptly administer adrenaline (epinephrine)  by intramuscular injection using an adrenaline autoinjector if available, or by using adrenaline ampoules and syringe (the latter is only suitable in a medical setting).

There is a high risk of potential harm (disability or death) from anaphylaxis if it is not treated promptly with adrenaline. There are also cost implications from delayed or inappropriate treatment of anaphylaxis, such as additional ambulance, emergency department and hospital costs, as well as additional anxiety for patients and their families or carers.

Antihistamines are recommended for treatment of mild and moderate allergic reactions, including allergic rhinitis (hay fever), but have no role in treating or preventing respiratory and cardiovascular symptoms of anaphylaxis. In particular, oral sedating antihistamines should never be used in patients with anaphylaxis as side effects (drowsiness or lethargy) may mimic some signs of anaphylaxis. Injectable promethazine should not be used in anaphylaxis as it can worsen hypotension and cause muscle necrosis.

For further information go to www.allergy.org.au/anaphylaxis 

Cox et al, ‘Allergen immunotherapy: a practice parameter third update’, J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2011 Jan;127(1 Suppl):s1–55.

Lieberman et al, ‘The diagnosis and management of anaphylaxis practice parameter 2010 update’, J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2010 Sep;126(3):477-80.e1–42.

Andreae, D. and M. Andreae, ‘Should Antihistamines be Used to Treat Anaphylaxis?’, BMJ. 2009;338:b2489              

Whilst there is currently no cure for allergy, reliable tests and a range of treatments for allergy are available, which are backed up by scientific studies that demonstrate proven safety and efficacy.

In contrast, numerous studies have demonstrated the uselessness of several alternative/unorthodox methods that claim to test or treat allergy. These methods continue to be promoted in the community and some even make false claims that they can cure allergy. There is also currently no stringent regulation of alternative/unorthodox diagnostic techniques and devices, so they can be “listed” in Australia without having to prove that they work.

There is a risk of potential harm if individuals with allergies are incorrectly diagnosed and inappropriately treated using alternative/unorthodox methods, particularly if they have severe allergies. The costs of alternative/unorthodox methods are significant, and are usually paid for by individuals, with rebates from some private health funds. There are cost implications for healthcare services as well as individuals, as these funds are being directed into non-productive areas, and are therefore not available for more useful medical tests and treatments.

Examples of alternative/unorthodox methods that have been demonstrated to lack evidence for testing or treating allergy include food specific IgG and IgG4 tests, homeopathy, cytotoxic testing and kinesiology. 

For further information go to www.allergy.org.au/patients/allergy-testing

Beyer and Teuber, ‘Food allergy diagnostics: scientific and unproven procedures’, Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol. 2005 Jun;5(3):261-6.

Antico et al ‘Food-specific IgG4 lack diagnostic value in adult patients with chronic urticaria and other suspected allergy skin symptoms’, Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2011;155(1):52-6. doi: 10.1159/000318736. Epub 2010 Nov 26.

Bernstein et al, ‘Allergy Diagnostic Testing: An Updated Practice Parameter’, Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2008 Mar;100(3 Suppl 3):S1–148.

National Health and Medical Research Council. 2015. NHMRC Information Paper: Evidence on the effectiveness of homeopathy for treating health conditions. Canberra: National Health and Medical Research Council; 2015.

Barton et al 1983, ‘Controversial techniques in allergy treatment’, J Natl Med Assoc. 1983 Aug;75(8):831-4.

Garrow, J. S. Kinesiology and food allergy. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1988; 296: 1573-4.

Research into allergen immunotherapy for food allergy is ongoing and until further work determining safety and efficacy is determined, it should not be performed outside of well-defined medical research studies, as there is a high risk of potential harm in individuals with severe food allergy.

Allergen immunotherapy is currently only recommended for treatment of allergic rhinitis (hay fever) and sometimes allergic asthma due to environmental allergens (such as pollen or dust mites) and for the treatment  of stinging insect allergy. Allergen immunotherapy should be considered in appropriate patients when symptoms are severe, the cause is difficult to avoid (such as grass pollen or stinging insects) and medications don't help or cause adverse side effects. 

For further information go to www.allergy.org.au/patients/allergy-treatment

Nurmatov et al, ‘Effectiveness and safety of orally administered immunotherapy for food allergies: a systematic review and meta-analysis’, Br J Nutr. 2014 Jan 14;111(1):12-22. doi: 10.1017/S0007114513002353. Epub 2013 Aug 15.

Lucendo et al, ‘Relation between eosinophilic esophagitis and oral immunotherapy for food allergy: a systematic review with meta-analysis’, Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2014 Dec;113(6):624-9. doi: 10.1016/j.anai.2014.08.004. Epub 2014 Sep 10.

Wang, J. and H. Sampson, ‘Oral and sublingual immunotherapy for food allergy’, Asian Pac J Allergy Immunol. 2013 Sep;31(3):198-209.

Reliable and proven diagnostic tests for food allergy include skin prick testing, blood tests for food specific IgE antibodies and medically supervised food allergen challenges. Allergy test results should never be used on their own, and must be considered together with the patient's clinical history. In the absence of a history of clinical symptoms, low levels of allergen-specific IgE are usually of little diagnostic significance.

Allergy testing of individuals where there is no evidence that food allergy plays a role in their clinical symptoms increases the likelihood of irrelevant false positive results. This may lead to potential harm due to inappropriate and unnecessary dietary restrictions, with nutritional implications for the individual (particularly in children) and unnecessary fear and anxiety (particularly for the family or carers). 

For further information go to www.allergy.org.au/patients/allergy-treatment

Sicherer and Wood, ‘Allergy Testing in Childhood: Using Allergen-Specific IgE Tests’, Pediatrics. 2012 Jan;129(1):193-7. doi: 10.1542/peds.2011-2382. Epub 2011 Dec 26.

Bernstein et al, ‘Allergy Diagnostic Testing: An Updated Practice Parameter’, Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2008 Mar;100(3 Suppl 3):S1–148.

This recommendation is consistent with ASCIA Guidelines for infant feeding and allergy prevention (2016), which recommend introduction of solid foods to infants, at around 6 months of  age, but not before 4 months (including foods considered to be highly allergenic such as peanut) preferably whilst breast feeding.

It is important to seek medical advice if an allergic reaction occurs and also regarding the safe introduction of foods if an infant has a sibling or parent with food allergy.

This recommendation is also consistent with findings from recent studies, including the LEAP (Learning Early About Peanut Allergy) trials published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) in 2015 and 2016. The LEAP trials concluded that the early introduction of peanuts significantly decreased (by 80%) the frequency of the development of peanut allergy among children at high risk for this allergy and modulated immune responses to peanuts.

For further information go to www.allergy.org.au/patients/allergy-prevention

Du Toit G et al. Effect of avoidance on peanut allergy after early peanut consumption. N Engl J Med. 2016. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1514209

Du Toit G et al. Randomized trial of peanut consumption in infants at risk for peanut allergy. N Engl J Med. 2015 Feb 26;372(9):803-13

Perkin MR et al. Randomised trial of introduction of allergenic foods in breast-fed infants. N Engl J Med. 2016. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1514210

Togias A et al Addendum guidelines for the prevention of peanut allergy in the United States: Report of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) sponsored expert panel. WAO J 2017 10(1):1

Turner PJ, Campbell DE. Implementing primary prevention for peanut allergy at a population level. JAMA 2017 Feb 13

Turner PJ, Campbell DE. Implementing primary prevention for peanut allergy at a population level. JAMA 2017 Feb 13