With rising rates of allergies in Australian children, many parents are struggling to navigate the growing minefield of allergy information and advice that’s out there.

If you’re confused about when to introduce your child to nuts, whether it’s wise to avoid certain foods altogether or the difference between a contact and allergic reaction, you’re not alone.

Be sure to tune into this episode of Kids Health Matters as Perth Children’s Hospital (PCH) Immunologist Dr Michael O’Sullivan and Senior Dietitian Kath Harrigan team up to tackle all things allergy-related.

The pair’s practical and easy-to-understand advice will help you sort fact from fiction and guide you through the tricky terrain of food allergies in children.

In this episode, Kath draws on her decades of dietetics experience to share practical advice on reducing stress around food allergies through:

• managing the introduction of food
• understanding food labelling and
• tips for teens with food allergies.

Dr Michael, will take you through the ins and outs of:

• testing
• managing severe allergic reactions and
• the most common food allergy in infants and children.

The renowned food allergy researcher will also explain the importance of an accurate diagnosis in helping you know what foods to avoid – and not to avoid – and the vital role of your GP.

Dr Michael emphasises the importance of regularly eating different foods as a way of training the body’s immune system in early life.

“The best way to prevent allergies in the future is to start allergy prone foods, such as nut pastes and egg, as early as possible and keep giving them to your child regularly.” Dr Michael said.

“For instance it’s important to keep trying to expose a baby to different types of tree nuts even if they have had a reaction to peanuts,” Dr Michael said.

He will even share insights into treatments on the horizon thanks to new research.

“Traditionally we have taken a ‘one size fits all’ approach to food allergies.

“Our clinical trials are allowing us to consider future options and choice for families in how they can manage a child’s food allergy,” Dr Michael said.

Kids Health Matters provides trusted advice on common child health concerns from leading Western Australian child health experts.

This episode is hosted by broadcaster Dani Shuey and PCH Respiratory Consultant Dr Adelaide Withers.

Further information about the podcast series including full show notes and transcripts are available at https://cahs.health.wa.gov.au/KidsHealthMatters

Kids Health Matters is proudly produced by CAHS which includes Neonatology, Child and Adolescent Community Health, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services and Perth Children’s Hospital.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An unexpected health emergency for a baby, child or young person can be traumatic, especially if it involves a trip to the emergency department (ED).

While we hope you will never have to visit the Perth Children’s Hospital (PCH) ED, in the event you do, it can help to know what to expect when you arrive.

In this special two-part episode of Kids Health Matters we join Paediatric Emergency Specialist and General Paediatrician Dr Paul Sander to take you behind the scenes at our busy ED.

In this second part of a two-part discussion, Dr Paul will arm you with knowledge to help you manage common illnesses.

He responds to common ED concerns, with a series of rapid-fire questions such as:

• when is a rash of concern
• why is it important to know the duration of a fever and
• at what point should we worry about our child’s temperature?

Dr Paul also shares with us what he loves about working in PCH’s ED, which last year treated around 70,000 babies, children and young people.

Make sure you listen to the first part of the conversation, where Dr Paul explains what happens when you visit a Perth emergency department.

For a full episode transcript and show notes, visit cahs.health.wa.gov.au/kidshealthmatters

Kids Health Matters provides trusted advice on common child health concerns from leading Western Australian child health experts.

The podcast is proudly produced by the Child and Adolescent Health Service which includes Neonatology, Child and Adolescent Community Health, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services and PCH.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An unexpected health emergency for a baby, child or young person can be traumatic, especially if it involves a trip to the emergency department (ED).

While we hope you will never have to visit the Perth Children’s Hospital (PCH) ED, in the event you do, it can help to know what to expect when you arrive.

In this special two-part episode of Kids Health Matters we join Paediatric Emergency Specialist and General Paediatrician Dr Paul Sander to take you behind the scenes at our busy ED.

With the help of hosts broadcaster Dani Shuey and PCH Respiratory Consultant Dr Adelaide Withers, Dr Paul will offer insights from his more than 15 years in emergency care to help you prepare for any unplanned ED visit, with useful tips on:

• what you should bring
• who you are likely to see
• assessments your child might be given and
• supporting your child through the visit.

Dr Paul will also take you through some of the most common reasons for children being brought into ED, the age range of children treated at PCH and the best sources for accessing reliable health information.

Don't miss part 2 of this chat, where Dr Paul tackles some quick-fire questions around common concerns which we often see in the ED.

For a full episode transcript and show notes, visit cahs.health.wa.gov.au/kidshealthmatters

Kids Health Matters provides trusted advice on common child health concerns from leading Western Australian child health experts.

The podcast is proudly produced by the Child and Adolescent Health Service which includes Neonatology, Child and Adolescent Community Health, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services and PCH.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.