We are delighted to offer SLIT (Oral Immunotherapy) to a range of food allergens in both our Ringwood and Belfast clinics.
Dr Helen and her team are experienced in delivering different types of immunotherapies and continue to broaden their treatment offer to include a wide range of foods. If you have a food allergy which is not detailed below, do contact us to enquire.
If you wish to book a SLIT consultation please email info@drhelenallergy.co.uk or call 01202 022 956, to arrange an appointment with Dr Helen or one of her team. These appointments can take place either face to face or virtually.
If you wish to book an Immunotherapy consultation please email info@drhelenallergy.co.uk or call 01202 022 956, to arrange an appointment with Dr Helen or one of her team. These appointments can take place either face to face or virtually.
Sublingual Immunotherapy (known as SLIT) aims to gradually reduce the immune system’s sensitivity to the allergen, increasing the amount of allergen that the patient can tolerate before experiencing an allergic reaction. This can help reduce the severity of allergy symptoms and, for some patients, provide greater protection against accidental exposure to the allergen.
In practice, SLIT involves placing carefully measured doses of the allergen under the tongue, usually on a regular basis at home following an initial supervised dose or treatment initiation in clinic. Treatment is continued regularly over a prolonged period, with the exact dosing schedule and duration depending on the allergen being treated and the individual patient.
If you wish to book an Immunotherapy consultation please email info@drhelenallergy.co.uk or call 01202 022 956, to arrange an appointment with Dr Helen or one of her team. These appointments can take place either face to face or virtually.
In our clinics we are currently offering treatment for the following allergens. If you would like to discuss an allergen not listed below, please contact us.
Almond allergy is less common than allergy to some other tree nuts and symptoms can vary considerably between individuals. Some people may experience symptoms associated with pollen food syndrome, while others can have a more significant allergy, making accurate diagnosis important before unnecessary dietary avoidance.
Cashew allergy is an increasingly recognised tree nut allergy and can cause significant allergic reactions, even from small amounts. Cashew allergy often persists into adulthood and, because cashew can be found in foods such as vegan products, sauces and desserts, careful allergy management can have a significant impact on everyday life.
Like peas and peanuts, chickpeas are part of the legume family. An individual may be allergic to one, or more than one, legume and as such accurate allergy testing is recommended for these foods.
Coconuts are only distantly related to tree nuts so do not fall under this category when considering allergies, an allergy to coconut is distinct. Coconut is present in many different forms in food but one that is increasingly part of our diets is as coconut oil. This is often a key ingredient in vegan food. Coconut is also present in oil form in many different toiletries and cosmetics and at present the impact of using these products as a coconut allergy sufferer is not fully understood.
Egg allergy is caused by a reaction to proteins found primarily in egg white. Egg is widely used in cooking and food manufacturing, meaning it can be present in a wide range of foods. Many children outgrow egg allergy, although some continue to experience reactions as they get older.
Fenugreek belongs to the legume family and is often found in curries, spice mixes and other South Asian foods. Allergy to fenugreek is uncommon, but specialist assessment is useful where it is suspected, particularly as some people with allergies to other legumes may also have concerns about fenugreek.
Hazelnut allergy can present in different ways, from mild itching or tingling in the mouth associated with pollen food syndrome to more significant systemic allergic reactions. Understanding the type of hazelnut allergy someone has is therefore particularly important when assessing risk and deciding how it should be managed.
Kiwi allergy is caused by a reaction to proteins found in kiwi fruit and can cause symptoms ranging from mild mouth irritation to more significant allergic reactions. Kiwi allergy can occur alongside other food allergies and environmental allergies, including pollen allergy. Cross-reactivity with other fruits and plant allergens can occur in some individuals.
Lentil allergy is due to a reaction to the proteins present in lentils (and in other legumes) Consequently, over half of people with a lentil allergy will also present with allergic symptoms to peas and chickpeas. Lentils are increasingly used in cooking and in food products in the UK, which may in part explain the increase in allergies to lentils (and other legumes) in recent years.
Macadamia nut allergy is considered relatively uncommon compared with allergies to many other tree nuts, but allergic reactions can still occur and may sometimes be severe.
Cow’s milk allergy is caused by a reaction to proteins found in milk, particularly casein and whey. Milk is widely used in everyday foods, making avoidance particularly challenging, especially for children. Many children eventually outgrow milk allergy, although for some it can persist into later childhood or adulthood.
Mustard allergy is caused by a reaction to proteins found in mustard seeds. Mustard is increasingly used in sauces, dressings, marinades and processed foods, making avoidance challenging for some people. There can also be cross-reactivity with other foods and with certain pollens, although this varies between individuals.
Peas are part of the legume family, which are rapidly becoming one of the most common causes of food allergy. Peas and also pea proteins are increasingly part of our diets and are not always in the most obvious food sources.
Peanut allergy is the most widely known food allergy and is present in approximately 1 in 50 (2%) of children and is increasing year upon year. Unfortunately, peanut allergy is rarely outgrown and current guidance is usually around food avoidance. Therefore, peanut allergy has a significant impact on both the allergy sufferer and their families.
Pecan allergy is a tree nut allergy and is closely related to walnut allergy, with some people reacting to both nuts. Reactions can potentially be severe and, as with other tree nut allergies, careful diagnosis and management are important to help people live safely and confidently with their allergy.
Pistachio allergy is a tree nut allergy and is closely associated with cashew allergy, meaning people allergic to one may also react to the other. Pistachio allergy can cause serious reactions and may persist into adulthood, so appropriate assessment and an individualised management plan are important.
Prawns belong to the crustacean family, alongside foods such as crab and lobster, and crustacean allergy can cause reactions ranging from relatively mild symptoms through to anaphylaxis. People allergic to prawns may also react to other crustaceans.
Sesame allergy has risen in prevalence in the UK in recent years and is now one of the top 10 allergy causing foods. At present it is not known how long sesame allergies persist or if they are outgrown. Sesame is present in a large number of foods in the UK and is one of the main causes of cross contamination.
Soya allergy is caused by a reaction to proteins found in soya beans. Soya is widely used in foods including soya milk, tofu, sauces and processed foods. As soya is a legume, some people with soya allergy may also be allergic to other legumes such as peas, lentils or chickpeas, although this is not always the case.
Wheat allergy is an immune reaction to proteins found in wheat and can affect both children and adults. Importantly, wheat allergy is not the same as coeliac disease or gluten intolerance, so getting the correct diagnosis and treatment is essential.
Walnut is one of the more commonly reported tree nut allergies and reactions can range from mild symptoms to severe allergic reactions. Walnut allergy frequently persists into adulthood and is closely associated with pecan allergy, meaning specialist assessment can be helpful in understanding which nuts need to be avoided.
Suitability for SLIT varies based on individual circumstances and any decision to proceed with treatment needs to be made in consultation with Dr Helen and her team. Generally, SLIT is well tolerated and Dr Helen Allergy is experienced in treatment options for both children and adults. Any co-existing medical conditions (such as asthma) will need to be considered when deciding on treatment suitability as well as each individual’s or family’s circumstances. To discuss if you or your child is suitable for treatment please contact us.
an additional £1500 for each additional food. Up to 5 foods can be treated at the same time.
* An initial consultation and allergy testing will be required before any immunotherapy can proceed.
The costs for environmental immunotherapy includes all follow ups. Please see the immunotherapy page for more detail.
**Food immunotherapy is available for peanuts, treenuts, sesame, pea, lentil, chickpea, mustard, pinenut, milk, egg, soya, kiwi and coconut with Dr Helen and her team in Ringwood, Hampshire or Belfast, Ireland. This is available for all ages.
It may be possible for some dose increases to be done at home. This will be discussed during an assessment appointment.
If you need treatment for a food not listed, then please ask.
Please note that sibling discounts are possible, please email for details.
All those enrolling for treatment with us, will also receive one year’s free access to our Allergy Membership for daily support. See here for details.
If you wish to book an Immunotherapy consultation please email info@drhelenallergy.co.uk or call 01202 022 956, to arrange an appointment with Dr Helen or one of her team. These appointments can take place either face to face or virtually.
Sublingual Immunotherapy (SLIT) is a form of allergen immunotherapy, also known as desensitisation. It involves placing a carefully measured amount of an allergen under the tongue on a regular basis, with the aim of gradually reducing the immune system’s sensitivity to that allergen.
SLIT is most commonly used for environmental allergies such as grass pollen, tree pollen and house dust mite, and specialist SLIT approaches can also be used for food allergies. The treatment is personalised according to the allergen, the patient’s age, symptoms and medical history.
NHS services currently use SLIT for certain environmental allergies, including grass pollen and house dust mite allergy, and NICE recommendations have expanded the range of some licensed SLIT treatments. However SLIT for food allergies is not routinely available as a standard NHS treatment in the same way as some environmental SLIT treatments.
At Dr Helen Allergy, we offer SLIT for selected patients with environmental and food allergies.
Environmental allergies that may be treated with SLIT include:
SLIT can also be considered for selected food allergies, depending on the allergen and the individual patient’s circumstances.
Whether SLIT is appropriate will depend on your allergy diagnosis, symptoms, allergy test results, medical history and the evidence for SLIT for that particular allergen.
SLIT is a long-term treatment and is usually taken regularly at home after the initial treatment has been started under appropriate medical supervision.
The exact duration depends on the allergen and the treatment protocol. Generally speaking the SLIT programme will last a number of months and we would be looking to assess tolerance levels at the the end of the first year of treatment.
For food allergy, SLIT may increase the amount of the allergen that a person can tolerate before experiencing a reaction. This may provide greater protection against accidental exposure, but the degree of desensitisation varies between individuals and is generally more modest than can be achieved with some oral immunotherapy (OIT) protocols.
If food SLIT is recommended, we will discuss the realistic goals of treatment, including whether the aim is protection against accidental exposure, increased tolerance or another specific outcome such as starting the Milk or Egg ladder.
