sub-specialities
- Immunotherapy/ desensitization
- Chronic spontaneous urticaria
- Food, pollen & dust allergies
- Chronic spontaneous angioedema
- Hay fever, eczema, asthma
- Itching (Pruritus) assessment
- Mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS)
- Core biochemical screening
- Vitamin deficiency testing
- Skin prick testing
Training & Background
| Qualifications: | MD, FRCPCH, PGCert (Allergy-Paed Allergy) |
| Year first qualified: | 2002 |
| GMC number: | 6045118 |
| Clinic times: | BY appointment |
Dr Costa qualified in medicine in 2002, from the University of Coimbra Medical school, in Portugal. He holds postgraduate qualifications in paediatric allergy, from Universidade Catolica in Lisbon and in allergy, from Imperial College in London.
His ongoing training and experience focused on childhood food allergies, rhinitis (hay fever), eczema, asthma and associated conditions. Areas of medicine he has also taken forward through dedicated research.
Dr Costa was added to the GMC’s specialist register for paediatrics in 2014. He has held senior positions within paediatric allergy services and is an active voice within the allergy community, to promote the best forms of care.
He believes that alongside managing the physical risk of allergies, supporting an inclusive environment for affected children is vital to their mental health and wellbeing.
Part of the holistic view Dr Costa takes on diagnosis and treatment. The insight and friendly manner he shows can be as valuable as his exceptional knowledge on childhood allergies, immunotherapy and desensitisation.
Research & Teaching
Dr Costa is at the forefront in allergy research and teaching. Serving as part of a core group within the British Society for Allergy & Clinical Immunology (BSACI) who write guidelines on allergies, on behalf of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
He is an Honorary Clinical Lecturer in Allergy and advisor for allergy in children & young people across a group of hospitals.
His published research paper topics include nut reactivity with increasing age, where the introduction of nuts into the an infant/child’s diet was explored.
Dr Costa is currently working on guidelines for new and emerging allergies for the BSACI and on an international research project. In particular, investigating airborne allergies and the burden of hay fever for children.
Professional Memberships
- Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
- Member of the Paediatric Advisory Group for Mast Cell Action
- British Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
