Food Allergy

Module overview

Food allergy is common in both children and adults. A clear understanding of various aspects of food allergy, including prevention, epidemiology, immunology and clinical management and treatment, is important for all clinical practitioners working in this area. This module will include an introduction to food allergy with lectures on prevention strategies, definitions, natural history and epidemiology of food allergy followed by an explanation of the immunological basis of food allergic disease. Common food allergies will be discussed in more detail with emphasis on management of acute reactions and food allergy as a chronic disease/condition. Additionally, there will be specific focus on established and novel diagnostic methods and treatment modalities. Throughout the module, you will explore topics by interpreting clinical scenarios to reinforce your learning. Our online module is delivered using a blend of live teaching and pre-recorded sessions. You are expected to attend all the live sessions which allows you to engage with our expert teachers and your fellow students and benefit from rich discussions. Our recorded sessions allow you to learn at your convenience within each teaching week. Most of our students continue to work while studying and benefit from this flexibility. Engaging with our blended learning each teaching week allows you to build on and synthesise your learning as you go. This module is taught once a year and typically involves approximately 10 hours of student engagement per week. The module will take place during the following weeks (exact timetable to be confirmed): •Teaching & guided learning: 14/01/26-25/02/26 •Self-directed learning: 26/02/26-18/03/26

Learning and Teaching

Teaching and learning methods

This online module is a blend of live teaching and recorded sessions providing a flexible learning environment that gives you control over your studies. You should plan your time so that you can attend our live teaching and make the most of being able to take part in rich discussions and interact with the teaching staff and your fellow students. A variety of online learning and teaching methods will be adopted to promote the development of a wide range of skills Specialist lecturers from a range of academic and health care professional backgrounds will ensure a breadth and depth of perspective is offered, giving a good balance between background theories, principles and practical management options. In addition, by sharing their experience of living with allergy, patients and parents will give an insight into their perspective, enabling you to develop your patient-centred approach. As well as the formal live teaching and recorded sessions, we offer group online tutorials to support your learning. There is also a guided immunology e-learning package with self-assessment available for you to take advantage of in your own time.

Study time
Type	Hours
Independent Study	150
Tutorial	3
Teaching	47
Total study time	200

Resources & Reading list

General Resources

1. Full reading list:. All the module resources can be found in our online reading list which you can access from the module’s Blackboard site.

2. e-Books. There are many e-books available from the University of Southampton library in both allergy and related academic subjects (e.g. reflection, study skills, communication skills). https://www-lib.soton.ac.uk/

4. Useful journals. These include: • Allergy • Archives of Disease in Childhood • Clinical Experimental Allergy • Clinical and Translational Allergy • Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology • Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice • Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics • Paediatric Allergy and Immunology • Paediatrics

Textbooks

Skypala I and Venter C (Eds) (2009). Food Hypersensitivity: Diagnosing and Managing Food Allergies and Intolerance. Oxford UK: Blackwell.

Shaw V (Ed) (2020). Clinical Paediatric Dietetics. Blackwell (available as e-book).

Leung D et al (Eds) (2016). Pediatric Allergy: principles and practice. Elsevier.

Stukus (2018). Allergies and Adolescents transitioning towards independent living. Springer.com (available as e-book from our library).

Ball and Luyt (2019). Food Challenges for Children A Practical Guide. Available from childrensallergy@uhl-tr.nhs.uk.

Holgate, Church, Broide and Martinez (2011). Allergy. Elsevier Philadelphia PA (available as e-book in our library).

Assessment

Assessment strategy

The assessment for the module provides you with the opportunity to achieve the learning outcomes by demonstrating the depth and breadth of your knowledge of food allergy, and your ability to make sound judgements. There is one assessed component which is based on a clinical case and includes integrated elements relevant to clinical practice. The pass mark for the module is 50%.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Assessment	100%

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Assessment	100%

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External