Best practice in prescribing for paediatric food allergy

Abstract

Children presenting with food allergy pose particular challenges to practitioners. Allergy often affects children throughout their lives and prescribing is a long-term strategy to be used as part of their management. Child-focused triadic consultation is integral to establishing appropriate and safe management. It will guide and support lifestyle, and maintain the child's health needs and safety throughout childhood, adolescence and into adult life. To achieve this, the prescribing practitioner must maintain an in-depth knowledge of available medications and options. Consent and engagement of the child are of particular importance. The case study explored within this article discusses the implementation of these concepts in a child presenting to the emergency department with a first presentation of food allergy.