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Allergies
Allergies and hypersensitivities
An allergic reaction occurs when the immune system overreacts to a foreign substance that usually causes few or no problems in most people.
Allergic reactions to antibiotics
Some people have an allergic reaction to antibiotics. Learn about the symptoms and the difference between allergic reactions and side effects.
Allergic reactions to cow's milk
About 1 in 50 infants has an allergic reaction to cow’s milk. Learn more here about allergy to milk proteins.
Allergy testing
Suffering from asthma or hay fever? They may be triggered by allergies. Find out more here about allergy testing.
Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis is very serious and can even be fatal. See here for the symptoms to look out for and what to do in an emergency.
Antihistamines
Antihistamine medications help ease allergy symptoms. Read more here about how they are used to treat conditions like hay fever and asthma.
Asthma
Asthma symptoms can include a cough, wheezing, chest tightness and breathlessness. Learn more about its causes, symptoms and treatment options.
Bites and stings
Most insect bites and stings are relatively harmless - but some spiders, snakes and sea creatures can be very dangerous. Learn more about them here.
Contact dermatitis
Inflammation of the skin is commonly termed eczema or dermatitis. It can be effectively managed with treatment – find out how.
Food allergies
Some people have an allergic reaction to a normally harmless ingredient or type of food. This immune system response can range from mild to severe.
Food allergies in children
Does your family have a history of eczema, asthma, hay fever or food allergies? Learn about food allergies in children and how to spot a reaction.
Hay fever (allergic rhinitis)
Hay fever is the common term for 'allergic rhinitis', which affects up to 1 in 5 Australians at some point in their life. Learn here how to manage it.
Hives
Hives is a skin rash that is often triggered by an infection or allergy. Learn to recognise symptoms.
Immune system
Your body's immune system is designed to protect you from, or get rid of, infection. Find out more about how the immune system works.
Cat and dog allergy
Allergies to cats and dogs are common, and symptoms can be severe. Learn more about how to live with a pet allergy.
Need more information?
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Top results
Allergy - Milk allergy and milk free diet | Sydney Children's Hospitals Network
How common is cows milk allergy? Cows milk allergy is one of the most common food allergies in childhood affecting about 1-2% of preschool children
Read more on Sydney Children's Hospitals Network website
Allergy - Food Allergies and Eczema | Sydney Children's Hospitals Network
Is food allergy the cause of eczema? No
Read more on Sydney Children's Hospitals Network website
Food allergies (food intolerance) information video | myVMC
Food allergies and insensitivities like peanut allergy, milk allergy and gluten intolerance can cause rash, other allergy symptoms or anaphylaxis.
Read more on myVMC – Virtual Medical Centre website
Food allergy: Egg allergy information | myVMC
Egg allergies cause immune responses (allergic reactions), such as hives, when eggs are eaten. They usually begin in babies or toddlers.
Read more on myVMC – Virtual Medical Centre website
Updated allergy advice for infants
Updated infant feeding guidelines make new recommendations on preventing allergies in children.
Read more on Pregnancy, Birth & Baby website
Food Allergy - Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA)
The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) is the peak professional body of clinical immunology and allergy in Australia and New Zealand. ASCIA promotes and advances the study and knowledge of immune and allergic diseases, including asthma.
Read more on ASCIA – Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy website
Food and Allergy Prevention - Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA)
The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) is the peak professional body of clinical immunology and allergy in Australia and New Zealand. ASCIA promotes and advances the study and knowledge of immune and allergic diseases, including asthma.
Read more on ASCIA – Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy website
Food allergy - myDr.com.au
A food allergy is an immune response triggered by eating specific foods that cause certain well known symptoms to develop.
Read more on myDr website
Milk allergy information | myVMC
Milk allergy is an immune response to the consumption of dairy products, causing allergic skin and gastrointestinal symptoms. It is common in babies.
Read more on myVMC – Virtual Medical Centre website
Food allergy information | myVMC
Food allergies are common in children and adults. Peanuts, milk and dairy products, eggs, meat and fish are the most common food allergens.
Read more on myVMC – Virtual Medical Centre website
Top results
Antihistamines and allergy | Australian Prescriber
There is now little role for sedating antihistamines in allergic conditions. Discover why they should be avoided.
Read more on Australian Prescriber website
Anaphylaxis Adrenaline (Epipen), Prednisolone, Hydrocortisone | Australian Sports Anti-doping Authority - ASADA
Anaphylaxis is a serious allergic reaction that can be rapid in onset and in very rare cases result in death. Anaphylaxis is commonly caused by triggers such as nuts, shellfish, stinging insects and some medications. In some cases no trigger can be identified.Status of medication in sportAdrenaline Adrenaline is prohibited in-competition and requires a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE). It is usually given as an injection for the management of anaphylaxis. Usually only one or two doses are required.
Read more on Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) website
Oral immunotherapy for the treatment of peanut allergy | Cochrane
Allergy to peanut can result in potentially life-threatening reactions and, on occasions, death. Unlike many other forms of food allergy, allergy to peanut is typically life-long. There is currently no cure for peanut allergy and people with this allergy must constantly be careful to avoid accidentally eating peanut or peanut-containing foods. If a person with a peanut allergy accidentally ingests peanut, he or she may develop serious allergic reactions necessitating emergency treatment with epinephrine (adrenaline).
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Formulas containing hydrolysed protein for prevention of allergy and food intolerance in infants | Cochrane
When babies are not exclusively breastfed, use of hydrolysed infant formula instead of ordinary cow's milk formula may reduce allergies in babies and children, although further studies are needed to confirm this. Infant formulas have been designed to try to lower the chances of developing allergy or food intolerance. These include hydrolysed cow's and soy milk formulas. Hydrolysed formulas break down the milk proteins into smaller, potentially less allergy producing proteins. The review of trials found that there is no evidence to support feeding with a hydrolysed formula to prevent allergy in preference to exclusive breastfeeding. In infants at high risk for allergy who are unable to be completely breastfed, there is limited evidence that feeding with a hydrolysed formula compared to a cow's milk formula reduces allergies in babies and children, including cow's milk allergy. Concerns regarding quality of the evidence and consistency of the results indicates further studies are needed.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Soy formula for prevention of allergy and food intolerance in infants | Cochrane
When babies are not exclusively breastfed, evidence suggests that using a soy formula instead of a cow's milk formula does not reduce allergies in infants and children. Infant formulas have been designed to try to lower the chances of developing allergy or food intolerance. These formulas include hydrolysed cow's milk and soy formulas. A review of trials found that in infants at high risk of allergy who are unable to completely breastfeed, there is no reduction in allergies in later infancy and childhood associated with feeding soy formula compared to a cow's milk formula. No eligible studies were found that compared a soy with a hydrolysed protein formula.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Oral and sublingual immunotherapy (giving people small amounts of things they are allergic to via their mouth or under their tongue) for fruit allergy | Cochrane
Oral and sublingual immunotherapy (giving people small amounts of things they are allergic to via their mouth or under their tongue) for fruit allergy
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Fish oil (n-3 or omega-3) for pregnant mothers or breastfeeding mothers to prevent allergies in their young children | Cochrane
Fish oil (n-3 or omega-3) for pregnant mothers or breastfeeding mothers to prevent allergies in their young children
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Sublingual immunotherapy (tablets, spray or drops under the tongue) to treat inflammation of the conjunctiva due to allergy | Cochrane
Sublingual immunotherapy (tablets, spray or drops under the tongue) to treat inflammation of the conjunctiva due to allergy
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Specific allergy immunotherapy for the treatment of atopic eczema | Cochrane
At least one in seven children and one in 50 adults suffer from atopic eczema, a skin condition characterised by an itchy red rash. People with atopic eczema are allergic to things in the environment, such as house dust mites, and exposure to what they are allergic to may make their eczema worse. Specific allergen immunotherapy is a treatment that involves a course of injections or drops under the tongue containing the substance to which a person is allergic. The treatment can reduce the severity of a person's allergy and may therefore be able to reduce symptoms of atopic eczema. We evaluated whether specific allergen immunotherapy was better or worse than a standard treatment or placebo at improving disease severity and symptoms as assessed by participants, parents, or investigators.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Prebiotics in infants for prevention of allergic disease and food allergy | Cochrane
There is some evidence that prebiotic added to infant formula may prevent eczema and asthma in infants. However, there is some concern about the reliability of the evidence due to not all trials reporting allergy outcomes and trials not reporting the outcome for all infants. Reactions to foods and allergies (including asthma, eczema and hay fever) are common and may be increasing. Many infants become sensitised to foods, including infant formula, through their gastrointestinal tract, a process that may be affected by the composition of the intestinal bacteria. Attempts to promote the growth of normal gastrointestinal bacteria and prevent sensitisation to foods have included the addition of prebiotic to infant formula. Prebiotics are nondigestible food components that help by selectively stimulating the growth or activity of 'healthy' bacteria in the colon. This review found some evidence that a prebiotic supplement added to infant feeds may prevent eczema in infants up to two years of age. It is unclear whether the use of prebiotic should be restricted to infants at high risk of allergy or may have an effect in low risk populations; or whether it may have an effect on other allergic diseases including asthma. However, further research is needed to confirm the findings before routine use of prebiotics can be recommended for prevention of allergy.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
