A doctor carrying out a food allergy test on a child
Food allergies affect one in five children in the UK. To help set the priorities for future research, University of Bristol researchers are asking children and young people with food allergies, their parents, and health care professionals who care for them for their views.
Growing up with a food allergy can affect a child's physical, emotional and social wellbeing, and that of their family too. There are many unanswered questions about the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of food allergy in children, and researchers do not know which are the most important to children, parents and health care professionals.
Working with the James Lind Alliance – a not-for-profit organisation which looks to identify unanswered health research questions by reaching out to those most affected – the researchers have launched a survey and are inviting children and young people, their parents and health care professionals to respond. The research is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).
The results of the survey will help guide researchers and those who fund research to focus on the needs of young people living with food allergy.
Matthew Ridd, lead for the project, a GP and NIHR Research Professor at the University of Bristol's Centre for Applied Excellence in Skin and Allergy Research, said: "Families with children with food allergy are underserved, both in terms of the available support but also by research into their condition. Until now, research into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of food allergy has been decided by researchers and funders. This is an opportunity for everyone who lives or looks after a child with food allergy to share their priorities.
"It does not matter if you are unsure whether the answer to your question is already known. We will sift through all the responses and publish a summary of answers where research has been done. The important thing is to have your opinions included so future research addresses the issues which matter most."
