Dr José Costa, MD

Dr José Costa is a senior consultant paediatrician and media commentator, specialising in the latest research, medical guidance and insight on childhood food allergies, Rhinitis (Hay Fever), Eczema, Asthma and associated conditions.

With over 16 years of experience in Paediatrics and 12 years in Paediatric Allergy, Dr Costa is a member of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. A graduate of Coimbra’s Medical school, in Portugal, Dr Costa also holds two post-graduate certificates - one in Paediatric Allergy, from Instituto de Ciências da Saúde da Universidade Católica, in Lisbon and the other in Allergy, undertaken at the Imperial College in London. Dr Costa has practiced as a senior medic in both the NHS and private sector, having led both the Paediatric Allergy Services at University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire.

Dr Costa’s key areas of interests in Allergy are in immunotherapy, oral desensitisation, Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), spontaneous urticaria and angioedema.

Recently he has been appointed as a Member of the Paediatric Advisory Group for Mast Cell Action – a charity supporting people affected by MCAS. Outside of his clinic, Dr Costa is at the forefront in allergy research and teaching.

He is part of a core group of senior medics within the British Society for Allergy & Clinical Immunology (BSACI) who write the guidelines on allergies on behalf of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

Dr Costa is also an Honorary Clinical Lecturer in Allergy and the National and Regional (Warwickshire) advisor for Children & Young People and Allergy for the Nuffield Hospitals. Research papers include a study titled “Increase in Multiple Nut Reactivity with Increasing Age is Not an Artefact of Incomplete Allergy Testing”, which explored the introduction of nuts into an infant/child's diet. This study found that not introducing nuts that children are not allergic to will increase their risk of developing allergy to those nuts later in life.

Dr Costa is currently working on guidelines for new and emerging allergies for the BSACI and an International research project, investigating airborne allergies and the burden of Rhinitis (Hayfever) in Children.

Qualifications:
• Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health FRCPCH
• Postgraduate Certificate in Allergies and Paediatric Allergies from Instituto de Ciências da Saúde da Universidade Católica, in Lisbon and Imperial College in London
• Coimbra’s Medical school, in Portugal graduate

Accolades:
• Member of the Paediatric Advisory Group for MCAS
• He is part of a core group of senior medics within the British Society for Allergy & Clinical Immunology (BSACI)

Website: thechildrensallergy.co.uk

Instagram: @childrensallergy