The country’s foremost food allergy expert has hailed as akin to “discovering pencillin” and a “world first” the government decision to legislate to allow trained members of the public administer life-saving medicines in emergency situations.

Our chemically washed, hygienic environment may be posing a threat to our children’s health. Helen O’Callaghan weighs up the evidence.

IN December 2013, the people of Ireland learned a hard lesson in how serious allergic reactions to food can be. 

A simple test measuring water evaporation from the skin of newborns could help identity those most at risk of developing eczema, according to a study.

The hunt for more sustainable foods — which includes growing meat in a lab and using mealworm as a protein source — should also include assessing their potential to cause allergic reactions, food allergy experts have warned.

Public hospital services for treating children with allergies are completely swamped with year-long waits for first appointments, and three-year waits for a vital food allergy test at the country’s most established paediatric allergy centre.

Children with potentially fatal food allergies are forced to wait up to three years to be tested because hospital screening services cannot cope with demand.

Research into allergies which concludes that a tolerance to peanuts can be built up slowly has been welcomed by the country’s only expert in allergies among children.

AS the mother of a teenager who has the allergy reaction, anaphylaxis, I was shocked by the tragic story of Emma Sloan, who died on the street in Dublin after a Christmas meal with her family.

The pharmacy regulator has started an inquiry into a Dublin chemist that refused to give an emergency adrenaline pen to a mother whose 14-year-old daughter died minutes later on the street because of a nut allergy.

Leading Irish experts are set to participate in the world’s largest study into potentially fatal childhood allergies — which could uncover their hidden causes and force changes to food and drink labels.

Health Minister James Reilly has announced the make-up of the review group to consider the decision of an Bord Pleanála to refuse planning permission for the National Children's Hospital.

Doctors will be able to find out in a matter of seconds whether children have food allergies thanks to research carried out by UCC.

AN instant online test to detect food allergies in children, which is 96% accurate and dramatically cuts waiting times for results, has been developed by researchers at University College Cork.

THE number of children diagnosed with tuberculosis at a Cork primary school has risen to 37, but the source of infection has still not been found even though screening of pupils and staff is complete.

THE HSE’s only medical allergist has accused health food shops and websites that offer allergy tests to the public of “racketeering and opportunism”.

TWINS Hassan and Hussein Benhaffhaf are home for the first time in more than two months.

THE mother of conjoined twins Hassan and Hussein Benhaffhaf, who returned home this weekend, has joked that she hopes Cork City Hall “will be big enough for everyone” as celebrations continue following the boys’ speedy recovery.

Separated twins Hassan and Hussein Benhaffaf were waking up on home soil today after returning home to Ireland.

TWINS Hassan and Hussein Benhaffhaf could be home within days to begin leading a normal life.

The Taoiseach has welcomed the Benhaffaf family home after they returned to Cork today from London, where conjoined twins Hassan and Hussein underwent successful separation surgery.

Separated twins Hassan and Hussein Benhaffaf are expected to remain in hospital in Cork for several days after returning home today.

YOUNG children are now experiencing allergic reactions to organic and exotic foods that would have appeared ‘bizarre’ to previous generations, a top Irish academic told members of the House of Lords.

PAEDIATRICIANS at some of the State’s largest hospitals outside Dublin have condemned the Health Service Executive (HSE) for failing to include them in the consultation process for a new national children’s hospital.

DOCTORS launched a major study yesterday to investigate how a new infant formula similar to breast milk could help prevent eczema in babies.

PEANUT allergies are becoming increasingly common in Ireland, with upwards of 16,000 Irish children affected by the potentially serious condition, an expert warned.