Oral Immunotherapy

What is Oral Immunotherapy?

Oral Immunotherapy (OIT) is a new treatment that works by gradually exposing your child’s immune system to small amounts of the allergenic food, so their body becomes less sensitive over time. The goal is to reduce the severity of allergic reactions or eliminate them altogether, so your child has more freedom and peace of mind.

For food allergies, OIT is a supervised method of eating the allergenic food under medical conditions. It’s been shown to be really effective for allergies to foods like peanuts, milk and eggs and some environmental allergens.

Though OIT is effective it requires a long commitment and a gradual approach often taking months to a year to see significant results. But the results can be life changing, so your child can have a safer, more enjoyable life with fewer restrictions.

How Does Oral Immunotherapy Work?

Oral Immunotherapy (OIT) is a step by step process that desensitizes your child’s immune system to food allergens. The treatment is done under the supervision of an allergist to ensure safety and effectiveness.

1. Initial Consultation and Testing:
   • Your child will have allergy testing including skin prick tests, blood tests and possibly oral food challenges to identify the specific foods they are allergic to. This helps the allergist determine if OIT is the right treatment and tailor it to your child’s individual needs.
2. Starting the Treatment:
   • OIT begins with small, controlled doses of the allergenic food, usually in a powder or liquid form. This is done in a clinic setting under medical supervision to monitor your child’s reaction.
3. Home Dosing:
   • Once a dose is tolerated under medical supervision you will give your child the same dose daily at home. The dose is mixed with a semi-solid food like yogurt, a smoothie or applesauce and consumed at approximately the same time each day. You will be instructed on how to reduce the risk of reactions to the daily dose and treat any symptoms that may occur.
4. Building Tolerance:
   • As the treatment progresses the dose of the allergenic food is gradually increased. This process is called desensitization and helps reduce the severity of allergic reactions over time so your child’s immune system can better tolerate the food.5. Maintenance Phase:
   • Once your child reaches the optimal dose they enter the maintenance phase where they will take a prescribed daily dose of the allergenic food at home. Regular follow up appointments to ensure the treatment is working.
5. Long Term Benefits:
   • Over time your child may experience significant reduction in allergic reactions, including less severity of symptoms. You will no longer have to worry about reactions to trace amounts of foods and will be able to eat at restaurants without fear. In some cases children can eat the allergenic food without having a reaction.

The Benefits of Oral Immunotherapy for Children

Oral Immunotherapy offers many benefits that can improve your child’s quality of life:

• Increased Safety: By gradual desensitization of your child’s immune system OIT can reduce the risk of life threatening reactions such as anaphylaxis.
• Improved Quality of Life: With reduced sensitivity to allergens your child may be able to eat foods and do activities that were previously off limits, enhancing their social life and overall well being.
• Reduced Dependency on Medications: As your child’s immune system becomes less reactive they may need fewer medications such as antihistamines or epinephrine to control their symptoms.
• Personalized Treatment: OIT is tailored to your child’s specific allergens and previous reaction severity, so the treatment is as effective and safe as possible.
• Remission: the earlier OIT is started the better the chance it may induce remission of your child’s food allergy. Remission is when a child can eat a full serving of the food without symptoms.

The OIT Treatment Process: What to Expect

Here’s what to expect during the Oral Immunotherapy treatment:

1. Initial Consultation and Allergy Testing:\2. Starting the Treatment (Build-Up Phase):
   The treatment begins with very small doses of the allergen which are gradually increased over time. The build-up phase generally takes 6-12 months depending on your child’s individual needs and the severity of the allergy. You will come into the clinic every 2-4 weeks to increase the dose. Visits are 1-3 hours long and your child will take their dose daily at home between visits.
2. Maintenance Phase:
   Once your child reaches the optimal dose they enter the maintenance phase where they will continue to take a prescribed dose of the allergenic food daily at home. This dose is 1-4 nuts, 2-4 tsp milk or a portion of a scrambled egg. This phase is 2-4 years long with regular follow up visits to monitor progress.
3. Follow-Up and Monitoring:
   The goal of OIT is to integrate foods into the diet, at whatever dose your child tolerates. Follow up visits are crucial to ensure the treatment is working and to make any adjustments. Your allergist will continue to monitor your child’s progress, assess any side effects and ensure they remain desensitized to the allergen.

Is Oral Immunotherapy Right for Your Child?

Oral Immunotherapy is a great option for many children with food allergies but it’s not the right fit for every case. OIT is most commonly used for food allergies such as peanut, tree nuts, egg, milk, sesame, wheat, soy, fish and shellfish.

However not all allergies respond to OIT and a thorough evaluation is needed to determine if it’s suitable for your child. OIT is particularly beneficial for children with severe allergies who may be looking for a long term solution. If you’re interested in learning more about whether OIT is the right treatment for your child contact our office to schedule a consultation.

Potential Risks and Side Effects of OIT

While Oral Immunotherapy is generally safe when done under the supervision of a trained allergist, there are potential risks and side effects to consider:

1. Mild Symptoms:
   Most children experience mild side effects such as itchy mouth, stomach discomfort or hives in the early stages of treatment.2. Moderate Reactions:
   Occasionally symptoms like vomiting, coughing or swelling may occur. To keep your child safe you will have a written Allergy & Anaphylaxis Emergency Plan and access to an allergist by phone or text for guidance and support..
2. Severe Allergic Reactions:
   Although rare some children may experience anaphylaxis or other severe reactions. 98% of allergic reactions resolve with 1 or 2 doses of epinephine so you should always have your child’s epinephrine auto-injectors available during home dosing.

Conclusion

Oral Immunotherapy is a game changing treatment that reduces the risk and severity of reactions to accidental ingestions of food allergens. By gradually desensitizing the immune system to allergens OIT provides a safer, more flexible life for your child free from the worry of allergic reactions.

If you’re interested in learning more about Oral Immunotherapy and how it can help your child Empower Allergy Treatment is here to help. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and start your child’s journey to food allergy relief.