Food Allergy Treatment
Food allergy treatment is possible.
If your child has a food allergy, you may have been told that the best way to keep them safe is to avoid the food they are allergic to and carry epinephrine in case of an accidental exposure.
These remain important parts of managing food allergy. But they are no longer the only tools available.
Food allergy immunotherapy is a treatment that can help some people become less sensitive to the foods they are allergic to. The goal is to provide greater protection from accidental exposures and help families live with more confidence and freedom around food.
If treatment is new to you, you’re in the right place. Here are the basics.
What is food allergy immunotherapy?
Food allergy immunotherapy involves giving a person carefully controlled amounts of the food they are allergic to under the guidance of a trained healthcare provider.
Over time, treatment can increase the amount of allergen it takes to trigger a reaction. This is called desensitization.
Think of it as increasing the buffer between an accidental exposure and a reaction.
For a child who reacts to a very small amount of a food, increasing that threshold can provide an added layer of protection from accidental exposures.
What is the goal of treatment?
For most families, the goal isn't necessarily for their child to eat unlimited amounts of their allergen. Instead, treatment may help provide greater protection from accidental exposure.
That can have an impact on everyday life: eating at a restaurant, attending a birthday party, travelling, going to school or simply being around food can feel different when families have an additional layer of protection.
Every patient's treatment goals are different, which is why families should discuss their individual goals with a healthcare provider experienced in food allergy treatment.
What treatment options are available?
Oral immunotherapy (OIT)
With oral immunotherapy, carefully measured amounts of the allergen are eaten. Treatment generally begins with very small amounts and follows a treatment plan established by a healthcare provider.
Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT)
With sublingual immunotherapy, small amounts of allergen are placed under the tongue rather than eaten.
The amount of allergen, treatment schedule, potential benefits and risks can differ between treatment approaches.
Not every allergist offers food allergy immunotherapy. Talk to your child's allergist or healthcare provider about your options.
Is food allergy immunotherapy a cure?
No. Food allergy immunotherapy is not currently considered a cure for food allergy.
Treatment does not mean that someone can automatically eat their allergen freely or stop carrying epinephrine. Patients undergoing immunotherapy still need to follow the safety recommendations provided by their healthcare team.
Instead, one of the main goals of treatment is desensitization — increasing the amount of allergen a person can tolerate before experiencing a reaction.
Is treatment right for every child?
Not necessarily.
Food allergies, medical histories, family circumstances and treatment goals are different for every patient. Immunotherapy also involves an ongoing commitment and can cause allergic reactions and other side effects.
A healthcare provider experienced in food allergy treatment can help you understand the potential benefits and risks and whether immunotherapy may be appropriate for your child.
CANFAIT provides education and resources to help families understand their options, but we don't provide individual medical advice or determine whether a particular treatment is right for you or your child.
Where do I start?
You don't need to decide whether treatment is right for your family today.
A good first step is simply to learn about the options and have a conversation with your child's allergist or healthcare provider.