Two new studies presented at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI) in Orlando highlight developments in oral immunotherapy and oral food challenges for children with food allergies. Both procedures were found to be safe for young patients and have a significant impact on families managing childhood food allergies.
One study focused on oral immunotherapy (OIT), a process where children are gradually desensitized to allergens through supervised oral food challenges. The research included 74 children aged 0 to 12 who underwent OIT between 2020 and 2022, targeting allergens such as peanut, tree nuts, sesame, egg, and milk. Parents completed standardized quality-of-life questionnaires before and after treatment.
The results showed that 64% of the children could eat the allergen freely after OIT, while others maintained protective doses against accidental exposure. Parents reported substantial improvements in daily life and significant increases in scores on the Food Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaire following OIT. Nearly 90% of families noted increased confidence and reduced anxiety regarding meals, social situations, and cross-contamination risks.
"In our study, quality-of-life scores improved in 88% of patients, indicating that oral immunotherapy can transform daily life for young patients and their families," said Lamya Jaigirdar, DO, lead author of the study. "The burden of food allergy goes beyond physical health: it affects mental well-being and can involve social compromise. Seeing such clear improvements is encouraging for the whole family."
A second case series described two high-risk infants with confirmed peanut allergy who achieved complete tolerance using a structured protocol that began with raw peanut introduction before roasted peanut exposure. The infants—one six months old and one ten months old—started therapy with incremental doses of raw peanuts. After achieving tolerance to raw peanuts despite mild reactions that resolved without intervention, they moved on to roasted peanuts. At three-year follow-up, both could consume all forms of peanut without restrictions or reactions.
"As far as we know, this is the first successful case of reversal of peanut allergy in infancy," said allergist Rachel Kado, MD, co-author of the study and ACAAI member. "We know early introduction reduces risk but there are no protocols for treating confirmed peanut allergy in infancy. The raw-then-roasted protocol offers a promising new approach and should be considered among early immunotherapy strategies for high-risk allergic infants."
Both studies underscore the importance of oral food challenges as both diagnostic tools and foundational elements for therapies like OIT. For many families dealing with childhood food allergies, these approaches may provide greater clarity and peace of mind.
For more information about diagnosing or treating food allergies or finding an allergist nearby, visit AllergyandAsthmaRelief.org.
Food allergies affect many children worldwide by causing dietary restrictions and anxiety related to accidental exposure or cross-contamination incidents.
