Food allergy in under 19s: assessment and diagnosis

Recommendation ID: CG116/2
Question: Clinical predictors of non-IgE-mediated food allergy:- Which features in the clinical history best predict the presence of non-IgEmediated food allergy in children and young people in primary care and community settings?
Any explanatory notes (if applicable): Why this is important:- Non-IgE-mediated food allergy often presents with non-specific problems that are common in children and are often non-allergy related, such as colic, reflux, diarrhoea, eczema and faltering growth. Failure to recognise food allergy causes unnecessary morbidity, whereas appropriate food elimination can result in rapid improvement in symptoms. In the absence of a simple diagnostic test, it remains for the history to provide the best diagnostic clues as to which child may benefit from a trial of an elimination diet. A validated, primary care-focused questionnaire, developed by comparison with proven double-blind placebo-controlled food challenge outcomes, would significantly improve the process of diagnosis.

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Is this a recommendation for the use of a technology only in the context of research?	No
Is it a recommendation that suggests collection of data or the establishment of a register?	No