Food Allergy Immunotherapy and Pediatric Patients

Food allergies are a common condition in pediatrics, and all pediatricians will encounter them during their career. Currently, one in every three children has a food allergy, and 40% of those kids have the potential for a severe or life-threatening reaction to certain foods.

Historically, there has not been a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved medical therapy to treat food allergies. Emerging research in immune desensitization is leading the way for these breakthroughs and we will likely see new products in the market by the end of 2019.

Listen to our allergy and immunotherapy experts

In today's episode of Charting Pediatrics, we discuss these exciting clinical trials, what two products are likely to be FDA-approved by the end of the year and what that means for your food-allergic pediatric patients. David Fleischer, MD, Director of the Allergy and Immunology Center at Children's Hospital Colorado, and Matthew Greenhawt, MD, Director of the Food Challenge and Research Unit at Children's Colorado, join us to lead the conversation.

In this episode, our experts explore:

• The findings of the Learning Early About Peanut (LEAP) study
• The concept of early introduction of potential food allergens
• Why it's so important to get parent and patient buy-in for the early introduction strategy
• Shifting from prevention to treatment when managing food allergies
• How to monitor the psychological well-being of children who suffer from food allergies
• Best practices for safely introducing potential food allergens into a child's diet
• The unique environment and associated benefits of the Food Challenge Unit at Children's Colorado
• How to determine which children should be allergy tested for prevention purposes
• The benefits and costs of allergen home testing versus medical screening
• The notion of permanent acceptance of a food allergen after food immunotherapy
• Limitations of in-clinic food studies
• How to help young patients and families choose a food allergy therapy that best fits their lifestyle
• Why food immunotherapies may not be right for every young patient
• The role that the microbiome plays in children's food allergies

Managing food allergies in pediatric patients at Children's Colorado

Children and adolescents suffering from food allergies are treated by the experts in our Allergy and Immunology Center. Here, our pediatric allergy and immunology specialists strive to improve the quality of life for young patients through a multidisciplinary approach to the management of allergies and immune disorders.