A recent study offers secure recommendations for healthcare providers and parents who are helping kids conquer food allergies. Specialists compare this process to "preparing for a marathon."

Allergies to food among children can be truly daunting—every school lunch or birthday celebration might pose a significant health hazard. This situation can lead to considerable stress and worry for both the kids and their parents, severely affecting the family’s routine social interactions as well as their capacity to organize outings and events.

Researchers have developed the first comprehensive set of guidelines aimed at assisting families in gradually building their child’s resistance to prevalent food allergens.

This treatment, known as oral immunotherapy, entails administering tiny quantities of an allergen such as peanuts to kids and progressively boosting the dosage over time to enhance their resistance.

Up until this point, healthcare providers have lacked substantial evidence-based advice to offer parents who administer oral immunotherapy for their child’s allergy. The recently introduced guidelines aim to assist practitioners in establishing consistent practices when collaborating with patients and families, thereby aiding children in overcoming food sensitivities.

This groundbreaking study stands out in our field as it addresses an unprecedented issue and introduces a non-standardized procedure. There is a pressing requirement for guidelines on managing oral immunotherapy,” stated Douglas Mack, a pediatric specialist from McMaster University in Canada and the principal investigator of the research.

What is the prevalence of food allergies?

Approximately 4% of children and 1% of adults globally have received a diagnosis for this condition. food allergy However, the occurrence is more frequent in Western nations, with 8% of young children and 4% of adults suffering from food allergies.

A child's nourishment might be toxic to another—peanut allergies are prevalent in the United Kingdom, United States, and Australia, whereas they are relatively rare in Asia, where wheat , allergies to eggs and milk are the most prevalent.

Over the past twenty years, the incidence of food allergies has increased, and researchers believe this trend may be linked to heightened levels of hygiene and sanitization. It appears that with reduced exposure to various microbes, children’s immune systems might start reacting to innocuous substances such as peanuts or dairy products instead. Additional contributing elements encompass inadequate Vitamin D levels and the age at which infants first encounter potential food allergens.

Many health authorities around the world recommend gradually introducing possible allergens to infants to help prevent allergies. It is suggested that families who have a history of food allergies consult with a pediatrician for proper guidance when doing this.

Oral immunotherapy boasts a lengthy and effective track record for assisting children with pre-existing food allergies. Its origins trace back to 1908 when it was employed to desensitize a 13-year-old boy allergic to eggs. Initially, his daily intake started at just one ten-thousandth of an egg, and within half a year, he became able to consume eggs without issue.

"We possess a therapy that has proven effective, with broad consensus among healthcare providers across various fields. Numerous studies are being conducted to explore numerous methods aimed at enhancing the precision of these treatments, boosting their safety, decreasing their invasiveness, and making them more accessible," stated Julia Upton, a clinical immunologist from the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada.

Oral immunotherapy assists children in conquering food allergies.

Oral immunotherapy programs may necessitate caregivers taking on roles akin to those of novice healthcare providers, closely monitoring for excessive allergen exposure which could be perilous. It’s typical for kids to encounter side effects such as stomach discomfort or nausea.

Families should educate themselves about food allergies, anaphylaxis, immunotherapy, proper dosing of foods, signs to watch for, appropriate times to administer treatment, and instances requiring communication with healthcare providers, as stated by Upton to Sport.Bangjo.co.id.

As stated by the researchers, up to one-third of patients received no form of preparation prior to initiating their treatment.

“If families aren’t ready for oral immunotherapy, they might either falter or make it dangerous. These households have to administer the treatment daily without fail. This underscores just how crucial these guidelines are,” stated Mack from McMaster University.

Developing food tolerance is akin to running a marathon.

These guidelines are intended primarily for healthcare professionals instead of being directed at parents or caretakers specifically. Therefore, it’s crucial for parents to collaborate closely with their physicians so they can ensure children conquer food allergies in a secure and effective manner.

However, the research also provides valuable insights for those who care for others and for parents.

"The data indicates significant consensus regarding crucial safety guidelines and anticipated results. For instance, asthma or reactive airways should be properly managed before and throughout immunotherapy, and various safety measures and dosage instructions must be adhered to," explained Upton.

Upton views the therapy as akin to training for a marathon; children require consistent daily allergy practice, and their tolerance would diminish significantly if they ceased all forms of oral immunotherapy completely.

"Many individuals with food allergies find that the improvement from immunotherapy depends on continuous exposure. Consequently, this frequently necessitates considerable counseling, making it quite beneficial for families when there is broad agreement on this approach," explained Upton.

Edited by: Martin Kuebler

Sources:

D, Mack et al., 2024. Preparing Patients for Oral Immunotherapy (PPOINT): An international Delphi consensus on procedural preparation and informed consent. DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2024.02.019

Initiate P, Chinthrajah RS, Nadeau KC. Oral immunotherapy as a treatment option for food allergies. Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2014. DOI: 10.4161/hv.29233

Elghoudi A, Narchi H. The Current Status and Future Directions of Food Allergy in Children. World J Clin Pediatr. 2022; DOI: 10.5409/wjcp.v11.i3.253

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