Tree nut immunotherapy
Food allergies to Tree nuts are relatively common. These include nuts such as cashew pistachio, almond, hazelnut, walnut, pecan or Brazil nuts. Tree nut immunotherapy can help families feel less constrained by difficult allergy management. Rather than living with constant uncertainty around meals, labels, and eating out, a supervised programme may help reduce the risk of severe reactions following accidental small exposures.
who we are
Private Allergy Clinic
Dr. Lajeunesse is a paediatric allergist and immunologist with extensive experience managing food allergies, childhood asthma, eczema, and hay fever. Taking a holistic approach, he works to provide clear diagnoses and tailored treatment plans, helping families take charge of their child’s allergies. Dr. Lajeunesse understands the challenges families face, including the fear of severe allergic reactions, and offers expert guidance to help navigate these concerns with confidence.
What is tree nut immunotherapy?
Tree nut allergies can affect everyday life in many ways, particularly because nuts may appear in a wide variety of foods and “may contain” labelling can limit choice. Immunotherapy is a treatment approach that aims to increase tolerance over time, so children and young people can feel safer and more confident, especially when there’s a risk of accidental exposure.
How tree nut immunotherapy works
Tree nut immunotherapy involves starting with extremely small, measured amounts of the allergen and increasing the dose gradually according to a structured plan. This process (desensitisation) aims to make the immune system less reactive at low exposure levels. It is not a cure, but the aim is often to help patients become “bite safe,” meaning accidental small exposures are less likely to trigger a severe reaction.
A personalised approach to treatment
Treatment is delivered under close medical supervision using prescription-based protocols tailored to each patient. Appointments are scheduled at regular intervals, with careful monitoring and stepwise dose increases designed to fit around school, work, and family life.
Highly Experienced Team
Our doctors and nurses have extensive experience delivering food immunotherapy and have been involved in clinical research trials that have supported modern allergy treatment pathways.
Convenient Weekend Appointments
To make treatment easier for busy households, and for families travelling longer distances, we offer Saturday clinics, which can be especially helpful for school-aged children.
Research Excellence
We stay closely aligned with the latest evidence and developments in immunotherapy, helping ensure our clinical approach reflects current best practice and emerging options.
Who is tree nut immunotherapy for?
Tree nut immunotherapy is available from six months old at our clinic at present. Suitability depends on individual factors such as the specific nut(s) involved, medical history, asthma control, and prior reaction patterns. We are happy to assess your child’s allergy profile and advise whether immunotherapy is an appropriate option.
For teenagers, treatment can be particularly empowering. It can support greater independence when eating out, travelling, and socialising. For parents, it may offer peace of mind that their child has an increased level of protection against severe reactions, including the rare but serious risk of anaphylaxis.
Need advice and can’t get to your GP?
You don’t need a GP referral, contact us directly.
Contact us
If you would like to contact us please fill in the contact form below and we will respond back to you very shortly.
"*" indicates required fields
Where to find us
Outpatient Clinic
-
Spire Southampton Hospital Chalybeate Close
Hampshire SO16 6UY - Opening Times Mon & Thurs mornings
The Peanut immunotherapy Clinic
-
Southampton General Hospital Tremona Road
Hampshire SO16 6YD - Opening Times - Saturday mornings
Book appointment
Other treatments
What our clients say
The treatment provided was first class and every single staff member was so helpful and kind to both our daughter and ourselves throughout every stage of the treatment, Our daughter has completed her treatment and is now consuming two M&Ms daily which has completely transformed her life and ours. I only hope more parents avail of this treatment that can completely change a child’s life, I cannot speak highly enough of all the team members at Allergy Healthcare.
Nigel
Communication, knowledge, experience of the team and responsiveness. 10 on all levels for our experience and we now feel our daughter has the tools to navigate her way through life when she leaves our supervision.
Sam
The care and expertise at allergy healthcare was excellent. I cannot recommend them enough. Throughout my daughters treatment they were supportive and encouraging going above and beyond to support us.
Helen
Dr Mich is fantastic! Great with my son and explained everything about his condition in detail. He is extremely knowledgeable and put us all at ease. Highly recommended.
Sophie
Mich, Helen and the team were excellent in my son’s journey. They were competent, thorough and considered throughout. Their knowledgable confidence rubbed off on my allergic son and we felt safe and supported. We felt welcome and cared for.
Suzy
Frequently asked questions
Have any questions? Visit our FAQ section for answers to common queries about tree nut immunotherapy.
What is tree nut immunotherapy?
Tree nut immunotherapy (often called oral immunotherapy) is a specialist-led treatment that introduces very small amounts of a tree nut allergen and increases the dose gradually over time, with the aim of reducing the severity of reactions to accidental exposure.
Is tree nut immunotherapy a cure?
No. Immunotherapy isn’t considered a cure; it’s typically designed to increase tolerance and help reduce the risk of a severe reaction from accidental small exposures.
Does tree nut immunotherapy cover all nuts?
Not necessarily. Treatment is usually planned around the specific nut(s) a patient is allergic to, and the approach may differ depending on the individual allergy profile and clinical assessment. Part of the pre-assessment process is to identify which nuts need to be treated with immunotherapy.
How long does tree nut immunotherapy take?
Timelines vary by patient and plan. Many programmes involve dose increases over several months followed by an ongoing maintenance dose, with regular clinical reviews.
Is tree nut immunotherapy safe?
Food immunotherapy is delivered under medical supervision with clear safety instructions, and side effects can occur, especially around dose increases. Your clinician will discuss risks, expected reactions, and when to seek help, and will only recommend treatment if it’s appropriate.
How did we do?
We welcome all feedback that helps us to improve our services and provide the highest standards of care and treatment.