Oral Immunotherapy
Oral Immunotherapy is fundamentally a graded food challenge supplemented over time by subthreshold doses to achieve a desensitized state dependent on persistent ingestion of a food allergen. This is a very exciting treatment for our food allergic population. We hope this will help our community reduce allergic reactions leading to ER visits and hospitalizations. In addition, it will help parents manage their child’s food allergy safely and reduce fear in both parent and child of accidental exposure.
At the present time, there is no adequate marker to differentiate cure (i.e. sustained unresponsiveness) versus successful treatment, so patients should anticipate that, for most, this will be a lifelong process and is a commitment.
The Treatment of Food Allergies
Specific dosing varies from food to food, but the general concept includes an initial escalation day of serial, increasing, low doses of the food, followed by a buildup phase wherein a single higher dose is administered in the clinic followed by a 45 minute observation period, then the same dose is taken daily at home until the next visit 1-2 weeks later. This continues until a maintenance dose of the food is safely consumed which is generally a meal equivalent of the culprit food. There will be some circumstances where a "bite proof dose" will be the target, for highly allergic individuals. This will reduce severe reactions due to accidental exposures.
Dose Escalations for Children
The majority of children undergoing OIT can tolerate the dose escalations well. However, Immediate IgE mediated allergic reactions are expected and may occur. The children are carefully monitored during these dose escalations and reactions will be quickly reversed and/or managed.Identifying an avoidable risk factor and reducing the next doses, should then allow resumptions of scheduled dosing. Immediate or delayed gastrointestinal problems can slow down the escalation process considerably and is the most common side effect.
Insurance Coverage
This treatment can be billed to insurance and should be covered with most plans, although there is expected to be some costs to the patient.
The Future of Food Allergy Treatment
OIT is the future for food allergy treatment. We truly believe this is a life changing treatment and are very excited to offer it to our community. We are constantly striving to provide the most compassionate and up-to-date care in allergy, asthma and immunology and continue to increase our treatment options as new possibilities arise in this specialty.
OIT Frequently Asked Questions
OIT is fundamentally a graded food challenge supplemented over time by subthreshold doses to achieve a desensitized state dependent on persistent ingestion of a food allergen.
This treatment is offered for milk, egg, peanut, tree nut and wheat allergies.
The majority of children undergoing OIT can tolerate the dose escalations well. However, Immediate IgE mediated allergic reactions are expected and may occur. The children are carefully monitored during these dose escalations and reactions will be quickly reversed and/or managed.Identifying an avoidable risk factor and reducing the next doses, should then allow resumptions of scheduled dosing.
This treatment can be billed to insurance and should be covered with most plans, although there is expected to be some costs to the patient.
Specific dosing varies from food to food, but the general concept includes an initial escalation day of serial, increasing, low doses of the food, followed by a buildup phase wherein a single higher dose is administered in the clinic followed by a 45 minute observation period, then the same dose is taken daily at home until the next visit 1-2 weeks later. This continues until a maintenance dose of the food is safely consumed which is generally a meal equivalent of the culprit food. There will be some circumstances where a "bite proof dose" will be the target, for highly allergic individuals. This will reduce severe reactions due to accidental exposures.
Immediate or delayed gastrointestinal problems can slow down the escalation process considerably and is the most common side effect.
Milk
- Milk Allergy
- Milk Allergy in Children
- Milk Allergy Treatment
- Dairy Allergy in Children
- Dairy Intolerance Symptoms
- Lactose Intolerance Treatment
Egg
- Egg Allergy
- Egg Allergy Treatment
- Egg Allergy Symptoms
- Egg Sensitivity
Wheat
- Wheat Allergy
- Wheat Allergy Treatment
- Wheat Intolerance Symptoms
- Wheat Allergy Symptoms
- Celiac Disease Treatment
- Gluten Allergy in Childern
- Gluten Intolerance in Children
Tree Nut
- Tree Nut Allergy
- Tree Nut Allergy Treatment
- Nut Allergy
- Nut Allergy Symptoms
Peanut
- Peanut Allergy
- Peanut Allergy Symptoms
- Peanut Allergy Cure
- Peanut Butter Allergy
General Terms
- Anaphylactic Shock
- Anaphylaxis
- Food Allergies
- Anaphylaxis Treatment
- Food Allergies Symptoms