Paediatric Allergy

10/08/2026

🥜 Peanut allergy prevention starts early.
The evidence is increasingly clear: delaying peanut introduction does not prevent peanut allergy — early introduction can reduce the risk.
Current guidance recommends:
👶 Infants at high risk of peanut allergy: introduce peanut-containing foods from around 4–6 months, once developmentally ready for solids.
👶 Other infants: introduce peanut at around 6 months, alongside other complementary foods.
📉 Importantly, the protective effect appears to be greatest when peanut is introduced earlier — particularly in babies with eczema, who are at higher risk of developing food allergy.
For infants with severe eczema and/or suspected food allergy, assessment by a healthcare professional before peanut introduction may be appropriate.
🥜 Introduce early. Keep it in the diet regularly. Don’t delay unnecessarily.
Peanut should always be offered in an age-appropriate form — never whole peanuts in infants due to choking risk.

21/05/2026

Looking ahead to June 2026 with great excitement!

My abstract, "Penicillin Allergy De-Labelling in Children: An Irish Secondary Care Framework for Low-Risk Patients," has been selected for a Flash Talk presentation at the EAACI Congress 2026 in Istanbul.

What started as a project driven by a desire to improve care for children labelled as penicillin allergic has evolved into an opportunity to contribute to an international conversation on allergy care, patient safety, and antimicrobial stewardship.

I am honoured to represent Irish paediatrics and share the work being undertaken in secondary care to make penicillin allergy de-labelling more accessible, safe, and evidence-based for children.

A lot of work lies ahead, but I am excited for the opportunity to present our experience, learn from colleagues across the world, and continue developing allergy services for children in Ireland.

See you in Istanbul! 🇮🇪 🇹🇷

21/05/2026

🏆 Feeling incredibly proud and grateful today.
I am honoured that our project, "Building a Paediatric Allergy Service in Secondary Care," was awarded Best Local Initiative Winner 2026 at the Tipperary University Hospital Annual Quality Day.
When we started this service in late 2024, the goal was simple: to bring high-quality paediatric allergy care closer to home for children and families in our region. Since then, we have performed over 100 skin prick tests, successfully de-labelled children incorrectly labelled as penicillin allergic, carried out oral food challenges, supported families through milk and egg ladders, and provided personalised allergy action plans.
This award reflects the dedication of a fantastic multidisciplinary team. Special thanks to our wonderful allergy nurse, dietetic colleagues, paediatric team, day ward staff, management, and, most importantly, the children and families who have trusted us with their care.
As a Consultant Paediatrician with a Special Interest in Allergy, building this service has been one of the most rewarding achievements of my career. There is still much more to do, but this recognition reminds us that small local initiatives can make a real difference to patients' lives.
Thank you to everyone who has supported this journey.
❤️ Proud of what we have achieved together and excited for what comes next.

20/10/2025

There is an Editorial comment on “Daily egg intake may reduce sensitisation to common allergenic foods among six- to nine-month-old south African infants: A randomized controlled trial”
🔗 https://doi.org/10.1111/pai.70201
This article relates to https://doi.org/10.1111/pai.70062

20/10/2025

Intranasal adrenaline update 💜

A new development in allergy care — EURneffy®, an intranasal form of adrenaline (epinephrine), has recently become available in UK pharmacies 🇬🇧.

This device delivers adrenaline through the nose rather than by injection, aiming to make emergency treatment for anaphylaxis easier and more accessible, especially for children and those anxious about needles.

👉 Important note: EURneffy® is not yet authorised in Ireland 🇮🇪, but it represents an exciting advance in how adrenaline may be administered in the future.

Always follow your doctor’s advice and keep using your prescribed adrenaline auto-injector (e.g. EpiPen®, Jext®, Emerade®) as directed.

18/10/2025

Cofactors can make allergic reactions worse. It's important to understand that they do NOT cause reactions, they only amplify them.

18/10/2025

BSACI 2025 Conference – ICC Wales
“Mast Cell Activation Syndrome is More Common Than We Think” an insightful talk by Dr. Matthew Greenhawt, Chief Medical Officer at the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.

Fascinating session highlighting how mast cell disorders may present with a wide spectrum of symptoms, from skin flushing and itching, to gastrointestinal discomfort, cardiovascular changes, and neurological manifestations.
It’s a timely reminder that mast cell activation plays a key role in many allergic and inflammatory conditions, and that greater awareness can help ensure patients are recognised and supported earlier.

So inspiring to see BSACI focusing on education, collaboration, and innovation in improving allergy care 🙌

17/10/2025

Here are some examples of what you can find in the of Pediatric Anaphylaxis.

Discover new insights in ’s on this critical allergic reaction, through the QR code.
or learn more: 🔗 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/toc/10.1111/(ISSN)1399-3038.anaphylaxis

17/10/2025

Excited to be at the BSACI Allergy & Clinical Immunology Conference 2025 at ICC Wales!

So inspiring to see how much progress is being made in allergy care : new protocols, practical approaches, and innovative ideas to improve patient outcomes. 💡

Can’t wait to bring back all the latest updates and insights to our Paediatric Allergy Clinic in Clonmel! 🌿💚

02/10/2025