Most children with milk allergy grow out of it. But if you are still allergic at the age of 5, the chances of it getting better are much less.

Some children with milk allergy can eat baked milk (in a biscuit, for example) without a problem, but cannot have it in fresh or boiled forms.

Milk allergy in older children can be severe. The fact that milk and other dairy products are everywhere can make it very difficult for a young person to keep themselves safe.

What is treatment like?

There are three stages.

Stage 1 – you receive increasing doses of very dilute milk in clinic under our supervision every 30 minutes until you have taken 5 doses. These are very small doses, added to a drink. We expect most people to have no problems with this first day of treatment.

You continue the same final dose for the next 2 weeks at home, once a day, with food/drink.

Stage 2 – called “updosing”. You then come back to us to try a new, higher dose. We observe you for at least 60 minutes before you can go home.

You continue to take your dose at home very day.

We repeat this process, where you take your daily dose at home and come back every 2 weeks for a new dose, for about 6 months, until you achieve the final target daily dose.

Stage 3 – called “maintenance”. After about 6 months of clinic visits every 2 weeks, once you can take the final target daily dose without a problem, you have reached stage 3. You continue to give the same daily dose at home for at least 6 months. After that, we discuss options for going forward.

Why not start with baked milk?

Yes, it’s possible to gradually build tolerance to baked milk, but this does not help reduce your risk of reacting to the proteins in milk that are less affected by baking, so you are still very much at risk of severe allergic reactions to accidental milk exposure.

How much does milk immunotherapy cost?

You need an initial assessment visit – this is to discuss the balance of risks and benefits with you (the person with allergies) and your parents/carers. We will explain the process and answer any questions you may have, before committing to treatment. This is not intended as opportunity to discuss allergies in general, or diagnose allergies – if you have not been seen in an allergy clinic already, you would have to do that first (either here at Glasgow Private Clinic, or through the NHS or elsewhere). 

This first visit is charged at £150. We will try to ensure this first visit is appropriate by getting some initial details from you by phone or email.

The total cost of treatment is £8000.

This covers: 

• Initial consultation
• Management of any allergic reactions happening in the clinic 
• Initial dose escalation visit (4-5 hours)
• 24hr phone/email support
• 11 dose escalation visits (1 hour)
• Any additional visits (for example, because of a gap in treatment or illness)
• Support from specialist dietician if required
• Additional consultations relating to side effects (but this would not cover involvement of other medical specialists)
• Final consultation at end of first year of treatment.

Annual follow up after that is recommended but not included in the above price.

If you change your mind before starting stage 1 (initial escalation visit) – full refund minus a £250 administration fee (a further charge of £250 will be applied if less than 7 days’ notice is given).

If you do not progress beyond the Initial Escalation visit – 70% refund minus a £250 administration fee.

If you stop treatment before the 6th up dosing visit – 50% refund minus a £250 administration fee.

If you stop treatment after the 6th up dosing visit but before the 10th up dosing visit – 25% refund minus a £250 administration fee.

If you stop treatment after the 10th up dosing visit – no refund.

We are able to offer a payment plan, where the cost of the treatment is spread over the first 6 months. This incurs a £100 administration fee on each of 3 payments.

Payment 1 – must be received prior to Initial Escalation visit – 50% of total

Payment 2 – 2 months after Initial Escalation visit – 25% of total

Payment 3 – 4 months after Initial Escalation visit – 25% of total