Food challenge information
A food challenge takes approximately 5-6 hours in total. This includes 4-6 doses of the food given at 20-minute intervals, followed by a wait of 2 hours to observe for an allergic reaction.
If your child has a reaction in food challenge you may need to stay longer to ensure the reaction has resolved. Bring a change of clothes, in case of vomiting.
A parent or legal guardian must accompany the child to the food challenge to give Medical Consent. A grandparent, unless they are a legal guardian, cannot attend in place of a parent.
Only one parent or legal guardian can attend a food challenge as the ward area is small. Unfortunately siblings can't attend.
The food challenge ward is a busy environment with an average of 10-15 children eating a variety of different foods.
Your child may witness another child having an allergic reaction during the food challenge. If you feel this might distress you or your child, please talk to the nurse before your child's appointment.
If you do not see your food please email food challenge and ask them what you need to bring.
Before the food challenge
Your child should not have any antihistamine or oral steroids for 3 days prior to the food challenge.
This includes cold medications and antihistamines such as Claratyne, Phenergan, Zyrtec and Telfast, or oral steroids such as Redipred or Predmix.
If your child is taking asthma preventer medications such as Singular, Flixotide or Seretide they should continue taking this medication to ensure asthma is well controlled for food challenge.
On the day of the challenge
On arrival, please go to Ward C1N, Medical Day Unit, Level 1, Sydney Children’s Hospital.
The clerical staff will ask you to complete admission paperwork before going to the food challenge room.
Bring some fun activities for your child to do, as it is can be a long day and your child will not be able to leave the Ward. Free WIFI is available.
Egg challenge
For egg challenges, you will need to bring 2 raw eggs. These will be cooked by the nurses on the day.
Please bring your child’s favourite food to mix with their challenge food. This could include savory toppings, cheese or chopped vegetables.
Please also bring non-challenge food for morning and afternoon tea for you and your child.
Baked egg challenge
- Please refer to baked muffin recipes
- Bake the muffins according to the recipe
- You will need to bring 2 muffins with you to the food challenge
Fish and shellfish challenge
For fish challenges, please bring:
- 40g cooked fish + a tiny portion of raw fish for skin testing (No canned tuna or salmon)
- 40g fresh cooked shellfish (supply with shell removed) e.g. prawns, squid
Please also bring non-challenge food for morning and afternoon tea for you and your child.
Milk challenge
Cow’s milk is supplied by the bospital but please bring flavouring or fruit to mix with the milk.
If your child is having a cow's milk challenge and is under 12 month's of age, please bring 300ml of their cow’s milk-based formula.
Please also bring non-challenge food for morning and afternoon tea for you and your child.
Baked milk challenge
- Please refer to baked muffin recipes
- Bake the muffins according to the recipe
- You will need to bring 2 muffins with you to the food challenge
Nut challenge
Peanuts, tree nuts and sesame are supplied by the Hospital, but please bring your child’s favourite food to mix with their challenge food.
This could include fruit, yoghurt, custard or ice-cream to mix.
Please also bring non-challenge food for morning and afternoon tea for you and your child.
Soy challenge
Please bring your child’s favourite food to mix with their challenge food. This could include flavouring or fruit to add to the soy milk.
For soy challenges, please bring:
- 300ml soy milk
- 300ml soy milk-based formula (if child is under 12 months of age)
Please also bring non-challenge food for morning and afternoon tea for you and your child.
Fruit, vegetables, legumes, wheat
- Fresh fruit, an age appropriate serving
- Vegetables (preferably cooked, we do not have facilities to cook vegetables)
- Legumes: including lentils, chickpeas (cooked or tinned)
- Wheat challenge: we make a flour drink for the challenge (apple juice and flour mix), OR please bring PLAIN COOKED wheat pasta
If you do not see your food please email food challenge and ask them what you need to bring.
In an emergency
Severe reactions to medicines are very rare if your child has tolerated the challenge dose in hospital.
If you are worried your child is having a severe reaction to the medicine, please call an ambulance (000) or present to your nearest Emergency Department without delay.