Lorina's story

Lorina Strockl has had treatment for a range of allergies at Barts and The London Allergy Centre, and feels that they are finally under control.

Lorina, 22, has to avoid all dairy products and many other foods, including shellfish, certain fish, chicken, tomato, avocado and chocolate. She is also allergic to grass and birch pollen, pet hair and some medication.

These allergens aggravate Lorina’s asthma, eczema and rhinitis and she is so allergic to milk that she has suffered a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis several times, requiring treatment in Accident and Emergency (A&E).

After repeated requests by her parents for Lorina to see a specialist, when she was 20 she was referred in 2005 to Barts and The London Allergy Centre, one of only a few specialist allergy centres in the UK.

Lorina, an administration assistant from Romford, Essex, had various allergy tests, including skin prick tests, prick tests using the actual foods (prick-prick tests) and IgE blood tests which measure levels of antibodies in the blood to specific substances. She also got support from a specialist dietitian who advised her on diet and keeping a food diary.

Dr Runa Ali, allergy specialist at Barts and The London Allergy Centre, says: ‘When I saw Lorina, I was concerned at the sheer number of foods she was allergic to and the resultant effect on her diet, which was limited to a few foods. She was even reacting to some antihistamines (anti-allergy drugs) as they are coated in lactose (a sugar in milk).

‘I prescribed an antihistamine that she could take, organised for a complete review of her dietary intake after review of her test results and prescribed an auto-injector adrenaline pen, which is the immediate treatment for anaphylactic shock.

‘She has received expert advice from our dietitian on how to improve her nutrition, within the constraints of her condition, and we have prescribed some calcium and vitamin supplements. This combined approach has helped bring her allergies under control and improved her overall well-being, but we are continuing her management by trying to extend the range of foods she can eat through further tests.’

Lorina is now undergoing ‘challenge testing’ for certain foods, which involves trying small amounts of the food at the centre and under close medical supervision.

She says: ‘Seeing an allergy specialist has turned my life around. I’ve found out exactly what I’m allergic to and I’m less scared of trying different foods.

‘I’ve lost weight as a result of my allergies but now I’m hoping to reintroduce some foods into my diet and eat more healthily.

‘My eczema is much better and I feel that my allergies are finally under control.’