Millions of people with condition warned you have to declare it before holiday

Original article here

The 2.9million people in the UK with a food allergy have been warned that you have to declare it when taking out travel insurance or your policy could be invalid – and you won’t be covered. The UK has one of the highest rates of allergy in the world with up to 44% of the adult population suffering from at least one allergy.

2.4million adults and 500,000 children suffer from a clinically confirmed food allergy. More than 30% of the adult population report having adverse reactions to some food.

James Gardner, Consultant Nurse in Allergy at The Allergy Centre of Excellence (ACE) – the first specialist allergy hospital in the UK, said: “Many families will ask if is safe to fly with a peanut allergy or other food allergies – the answer is yes… but it’s important to take some basic precautions, so with proper preparation you can still have a great trip.”

James said that carrying translation cards, a list of emergency contacts of the country you’re visiting including the nearest hospital and emergency services, and your insurance details, are key in case of an emergency on holiday.

He said: “In the UK, food allergies are generally treated as a pre-existing medical condition by travel insurers, so you’re expected to declare them. Multiple insurers and allergy organisations warn that failing to disclose allergies can invalidate claims related to allergic reactions.

“Mild, well-controlled allergies may add little or nothing to the premium, whereas severe allergies — especially with previous anaphylaxis, hospital admissions, multiple allergies, asthma, or regular EpiPen use – are more likely to increase cost. Several specialist insurers explicitly say premiums ‘may’ or are ‘likely to’ cost more when allergies are declared, though often only modestly. Also, travelling to North America is likely to increase your premium as treatment is more expensive in USA/Canada”.

James said: “Travelling with a food allergy can be a stressful time, but with proper education, diagnosis and management, people with food allergies should be able to lead normal lives, which includes safe travelling. It is worth noting that, while there is a chance of an allergic reaction from contact or airborne exposure on a plane, the risk is usually low unless there’s significant exposure (as modern aircraft filters will rapidly clear airborne allergen).

“For example, the risk of nut protein becoming airborne is very low, whereas milk and fish protein more easily become airborne, but a significant exposure is typically required before symptoms would be experienced. By far the greatest risk comes from ingestion of the food allergen, so the main rule is to avoid eating foods you’re allergic to.”