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New Food Allergy Treatment

New Food Allergy Treatment

The traditional approach to a food allergy consists of avoiding the food to which you’re allergic, and keeping emergency medication (epinephrine auto-injector and a quick onset oral antihistamine) available. Recently, an alternative approach to treating food allergy has been developed. The traditional approach is based on strict avoidance, while the alternative approach maintains the principle of general avoidance, except for physician-directed consumption of specified amounts of the food, under very specific instructions. This approach, known as Oral Immunotherapy, involves cautiously eating the allergenic food, while being monitored in a medical facility.

The goal of Oral Immunotherapy is to allow you to eat a small amount of the food to which you are allergic, without triggering an allergic reaction. Through the desensitization process, accidental food ingestions are less likely to trigger a worrisome allergic reaction, thus creating a safety net.  However: An epinephrine auto-injector and quick onset oral antihistamine such as cetirazine (Zyrtec) or diphenhydramine (Benadryl) should still be available at all times.

How it works is that doses of the food are administered by mouth. The initial dose of the food is designed to be small enough so that it is unlikely to trigger an allergic reaction. The amount of food you consume is slowly increased, until either you reach the target dose for that visit, or an allergic reaction to the food occurs. Since this desensitization process occurs in a medical facility under the supervision of your allergist, if an allergic reaction occurs, the allergy staff promptly treats it.

At this point, individuals who successfully complete the peanut oral immunotherapy/peanut desensitization program should still consider themselves allergic to peanut, and keep emergency medication available. Recent studies raise the possibility that some individuals undergoing Oral Immunotherapy/Peanut Desensitization might truly become non-allergic.

Oral Immunotherapy has been successfully accomplished at research centers and in private practice settings for individuals with food allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, cow’s milk and egg. Currently, Advanced Allergy and Asthma Care is initiating a food allergy desensitization program utilizing oral immunotherapy for individuals who are allergic to peanuts. Additional foods may be added to the desensitization program in the future.

Our physicians at Advanced Allergy & Asthma Care, Dr. Jonathan Bell, Dr. Yogen Dave, Dr. Sara Dever, Dr. Richard Lee and Dr. Purvi Shah, can help improve your quality of life.  We specialize in the treatment of nasal, eye food, medication and skin allergies, as well as asthma care.  We are located in Fairfield County, Connecticut in Danbury, New Milford, Norwalk and Ridgefield.


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Multi-Specialty Private Practice with six locations in Fairfield County, CT