Allergy

Monash Children’s Hospital Paediatric Allergy Team provides expert care for infants and children with food allergies and anaphylaxis.

Phone: (03) 8572 2268
Email: paedsallergy@monashhealth.org

About us

Monash Children’s Hospital Paediatric Allergy provides expert care for infants and children with food allergies and anaphylaxis.

Recent studies have shown that food allergy affects one in every 10 Victorian children born, and double that risk if one parent was born in Asia.  This persists in 8% of children up to five years of age, and approximately 2% of adults. Hospital admissions for severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) have doubled over the last decade in Australia, USA and UK. In Australia, admissions for anaphylaxis due to food allergy in children aged zero to four years are even higher, having increased five-fold over the same period (Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy).

The service aims to improve the health and quality of life of children with allergies by providing an integrated Paediatric Allergy service in partnership with primary health, GPs and community based paediatricians.

We also aim to deliver sustainable healthcare, and allow for timely access to tertiary paediatric allergy care and a positive experience for patients and their families.   To help us achieve this, we ask that if your child has been seen in another Allergy Clinic setting in close proximity to your booked appointment in the Monash Paediatric Allergy Clinic, please contact us so that we are able to allocate your appointment to another patient on the waiting list.

The Paediatric Allergy Team comprises of the following:

Consultant Paediatric Allergist Immunologists

  • Dr Paxton Loke
  • Dr Mark Taranto
  • Dr Omega Leong

Clinical Nurse Consultants

  • Elizabeth Stevenson-Smith
  • Libbi Rogers
  • Helen Czech

Allergy Specialist Dietitian

  • Marianne Tomlin

Read more about the Paediatric Allergy Team here.

Clinics and Challenge Service

Outpatient Paediatric Allergy clinics are held twice weekly with all appointments made through the central outpatient booking system.

The inpatient Challenge service operates twice weekly at the Lagoon Same Day Unit for infants and children requiring food challenges.

The Allergy Feeding Clinics operate once a month for children who are existing patients of the Paediatric Allergy clinic and have difficulties consuming age-appropriate quantities of foods.

 

I Am A Private Allergist, Can I Refer A Child For An Inpatient Food Challenge?

Private Allergists who are members of ASCIA may refer children to the Monash Children’s Hospital Paediatric Allergy inpatient food challenge service under the external food challenge referral pathway.  Please contact our administration team via paedsallergy@monashhealth.org to discuss the referral process.

Due to wait times exceeding capacity (>12 months), we are currently not accepting referrals (effective 8th March 2024) for external food challenges until further notice.

Referrals

As per Hospital guidelines all referrals must now be made via Health Link.  Referrals via fax, post and email ceased on Monday 18th July.  Health Link can be accessed by the referring Doctor, with the referral then uploaded electronically.  Please do not email or call to refer.

Resources are available to guide Clinicians move to Health Link on the Secure eReferrals page on the Monash Health website: https://monashhealth.org/health-professionals/referrals/gp-ereferrals/

Please note current wait times can be up to 12 months or longer due to referrals exceeding capacity.

 

Referral Guidelines

Please refer to our referral guidelines prior to referring.  A detailed clinical history, together with relevant documents (discharge summary, previous letters or results) would assist in the triaging process.

If your child has seen an Allergist recently, please contact us so that we are able to allocate your appointment to another patient on the waiting list, to allow for equity of access and care.

 Conditions and inclusions:

  • Age 0-12 years
  • Food allergies
    • Staple food allergy in an infant (< 1 year old)
    • Infants and children with one or more food allergies
    • Mild to moderate food-related allergic reactions
    • Food allergy with poorly controlled asthma
  • Food allergy related anaphylaxis
    • All new cases of confirmed or suspected anaphylaxis
    • Review of previously assessed anaphylaxis (previous external allergist letters and results must be supplied)

Exclusions:

The Paediatric Allergy Clinic is not currently accepting referrals for the following:

  • Patients from 13 years old
  • Food intolerances
  • Allergic rhinitis
  • Insect venom allergy
  • Drug, medication or vaccine allergy
  • Acute or chronic urticaria
  • Asthma not associated with allergic rhinitis or food allergy
  • Eczema
  • Lactose or fructose testing
  • Food allergen screening if there is no clear history of allergic reaction.
  • Family history of allergy, in a healthy patient who does not have an allergic condition.
  • Patch testing, metal allergy or anaesthetic allergy testing is not available.

Note:

Referrals where screening specific IgE (RAST) testing to foodmix has been performed will not be accepted. Screening allergy tests (i.e. tests performed for children who have never eaten these foods or have no immediate reactions to foods) is not recommended. Please see further information on food introduction and allergy prevention at

Frequently Asked Questions

My child is already under the care of another allergy clinic, should we still attend?

So we can offer a streamline service and see children in priority order, please contact the paediatric allergy team at Monash Children’s Hospital to discuss your child’s appointment if your child is already under the care of another allergy clinic.

My baby has eczema - what foods should I avoid?

Research has shown that offering your baby common allergy causing foods before they are one year old can greatly reduce their risk of developing an allergy to that food.  Delaying the introduction of a food does not prevent a food allergy.  Children with eczema have a higher chance of developing a food allergy so following this advice is even more important.  For more information about introducing solids please visit http://www.preventallergies.org.au and ASCIA Eczema and Food Allergy Fast Facts.

How can I obtain a new ASCIA Action Plan?

An ASCIA Action Plan would have been provided at the time of your appointment.  ASCIA Action Plans do not expire, and therefore the plan is still valid beyond the recommended review date, which is a guide for patients to see their doctor.  Please see your GP for ongoing plans as required.

Where can I obtain a new prescription for allergy formula?

The initial prescription for the allergy infant formula normally has 5 repeat scripts.  If your child still requires this formula after you have used all 5 scripts you can obtain a new script for some formula milks by your GP, or for other more specialist formulas (such as Neocate, Alfamino and Elecare) you will need to contact the doctor who provided the original script for this formula.

Where can I obtain a new prescription for an autoinjector (EpiPen / Anapen)?

If your child requires a new adrenaline autoinjector, please ask your child’s GP to provide a new script and make note of the new expiry date.  This will enable you to re-request a new script prior to this expiry date.

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