Milk allergy affects 2 – 3 % of children in the UK and can present in a variety of ways. Milk allergy can be responsible for immediate IgE allergy reactions and sadly, deaths from milk allergy in children have increased over the last 10 to 20 years. Milk allergy can also cause more delayed Non IgE Mediated reaction which classically are misdiagnosed or missed for several weeks or months. In addition, milk is a common caused for FPIES (Food Protein Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome) which can trigger profuse vomiting 1 to 4 hours after exposure. It is often with repeated reactions to the milk that these diagnoses are made.

Helen has personal experience of managing a child with a milk allergy as her eldest son Ethan, had both mixed non-IgE and IgE Mediated milk allergies. He had several episodes of anaphylaxis, and it was this which prompted Dr Helen to do further training in allergy.

Due to her personal experience and her role as a GP in primary care, and her work in a specialist allergy service, Dr Helen is frequently asked to be the allergy expert on many milk allergy panels. Dr Helen has been involved in several publications about milk allergy and  is asked to give her expert opinion on how the condition can be better managed and recognised by primary care GPs.

Dr Helen has been asked to lecture internationally around the subject of milk allergy and is well recognised as a allergy expert with specialist knowledge in this area.

Dr Helen continues to work with industry to improve a patient and families experience of milk allergy and to improve education amongst healthcare professionals. She is involved in several ongoing projects to enhance allergy understanding within healthcare, including for GPs, health visitors, nurses and pharmacists.

If you’re concerned that your child or family member has a milk allergy, and would like further guidance from an allergy expert like Dr Helen, then please do get in touch with us on our ‘Contact Us’ page.