Oral Immunotherapy for Foods
Oral immunotherapy (OIT) is a treatment option for patients with food allergy in which the patient is given small quantities of the food every day, gradually building up tolerance to the offending food. Active clinical trials for oral immunotherapy have been ongoing for more than 15 years, and 10,000 patients have been desensitized to their respective food allergy triggers.
OIT is intended to reduce the severity of allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, that could occur from accidental exposure to the food allergen. The triggering food should continue to be avoided outside of scheduled dosing, and the final dose is intended to be continued indefinitely. This therapy gradually decreases the sensitivity to small amounts of the allergen that may be hidden in foods and can decrease the frequency and severity of reactions to accidentally ingested allergen. OIT is not a cure, though it may be disease modifying.
Benefits
Patients taking oral immunotherapy report better quality-of-life related to their food allergy. Having food allergies places enormous burden on patients and families, and oral immunotherapy can give patients greater control over their food allergy. After completing the build-up phase, most patients can consume foods which “may contain” the food trigger. For those who are highly allergic, the goal of therapy is to become “bite tolerant” meaning no reactions to an accidental ingestion of a small amount of the food. After 2 years of therapy, we may discuss an oral challenge to determine the safety of consuming the food without restrictions.
Risks
Oral immunotherapy can trigger a severe allergic reaction/anaphylaxis which can be life-threatening. The most common side effects were abdominal pain, vomiting, throat irritation/tightness, cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, nasal symptoms including runny nose/sneezing, and itchy skin/mouth/ears and hives. OIT is NOT recommended for patients with uncontrolled asthma, history of mastocytosis or eosinophilic esophagitis, or who are unable to receive or self-administer injectable epinephrine.
Interested in Oral Immunotherapy?
Dr. Joshua Phillips currently offers oral immunotherapy to peanuts and other foods on a case by case basis in the Jackson office. Call for an appointment to discuss the risks and benefits of this treatment.