What is food OIT?

OIT stands for “oral immunotherapy” or oral desensitization for food allergies. Food OIT is a medical treatment for food-allergic patients that retrains the immune system to tolerate a food allergen through gradually increasing doses of the allergenic food.

 

There is no cure for food allergies, but OIT can protect a patient from having an allergic reaction to accidental exposure or cross-contamination of the allergenic food. OIT has an 85%+ success rate in clinical trials and can significantly improve quality of life by reducing fear of accidental exposure.

 

Who is a candidate?

Patients with a confirmed IgE-mediated food allergy may be candidates for food OIT. Before starting, allergy testing or an in-office food challenge may be needed. Any coexisting conditions, such as asthma or environmental allergies, should be well-controlled to maximize the success of OIT.

Ideal candidates:

• Patients with a confirmed IgE-mediated food allergy

• Those without uncontrolled asthma or a history of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE)

• Families prepared to follow the OIT protocol closely

 

Which foods can be treated?

At AASGW, OIT is available for patients with IgE-mediated allergies to:

• Peanut

• Tree nuts

• Milk

• Egg

• Sesame

• Wheat​​

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How is OIT performed?

At the first OIT appointment, the healthcare provider will give the patient the first few doses of the allergic food. These initial doses contain very small amounts of the food allergen. After the initial visit, the patient will continue to take a specified dose daily. The patient will then return to the office every two weeks or more to increase to the next higher dose until he/she reaches the targeted or “maintenance” dose. This "escalation" process takes at least 6-12 months.

 

When the patient reaches the maintenance dose, he/she must continue a measured amount of the allergenic food indefinitely to remain desensitized to the food.

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What are the risks of food OIT?

Food OIT is generally safe when supervised by an allergist, but reactions can occur. Most reactions are mild, such as oral itching, hives, or stomach upset. Some patients may experience more severe reactions, including anaphylaxis. Because of this risk, patients must always have an epinephrine autoinjector on hand. Symptoms similar to eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) can also occur. Careful adherence to the dosing protocol and close monitoring help manage these risks.