Food Allergy Oral
Desensitization
Due to the overwhelming response and
additional questions we published a new website dedicated to oral immunotherapy.
www.OITCenter.com
Oral desensitization (oral immunotherapy) involves
giving a minute amount of food and increasing over time. The goal is to be
able to tolerate the food with no need for avoidance.
The first published article about oral
desensitization for food was published in the early 1900's and has
been under study since then. More recently there have been a
number of studies across the world. (select references below)
Oral desensitization for food hypersensitivity. Immunol & Allergy
Clin North Am. 31(2):367-76, xi, 2011 May.
Successful oral desensitization for systemic peanut allergy. Ann
Allergy Asthma Immunol 97. 266-267. 2006
Oral peanut immunotherapy for peanut allergic patients. J Allergy
Clin Immunol 119. 2007
Oral Desensitization in Children with Cow’s Milk Allergy. Journal of
Investigative Allergy and Clinical Immunology 2008; 18(5): 389-396.
Specific oral tolerance induction in children with very severe cow’s
milk-induced reactions. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
2008; 121: 343-7
A protocol for oral desensitization in children with IgE mediated
cow’s milk allergy. Allergy 2004; 59: 980-7
Egg oral immunotherapy in nonanaphylactic children with egg allergy.
Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 2007; 119: 119-205
A randomized, double blind, placebo controlled study of milk oral
immunotherapy for cow’s milk allergy. Journal of Allergy and
Clinical Immunology 2008; 122: 1154-60.
Is oral immunotherapy a
cure?
The truth is we do not know. We know that oral immunotherapy will
induce tolerance and allow eating the food. What we do not
know as of yet is how long the treatment will need to continue.
We currently are treating peanut, milk, soy,
wheat, tree nuts, sesame seed and egg allergies.
The procedure starts with the induction day
where a extraordinarily small dose of the allergen is fed orally and
slowly increased throughout the day. The procedure lasts
the whole day (approximately 7-8 hrs). The last tolerated dose
will be given at home twice daily. Over the next 4-6 months
the patient will return weekly for elevating doses of the food (one
hour office visit).
Once the maintenance dose is reached, the
previously allergenic food will be able to be introduced into the
diet.
Who is eligible?
You must be at 3 years of age. Desensitization works in both
adults and children.
How do we start?
-Call and set up an appointment.
-Bring past testing results, skin/blood.
-If the diagnosis of food allergy has not been fully confirmed (very
common to have incomplete), then we may discuss an oral challenge or
additional testing.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Peanut
Egg
Milk
Wheat
