OIT is the newest therapy in food allergies, and Allergy Tampa is the one of the first practices in Florida to offer it. OIT stands for oral immunotherapy, and it is a treatment for food allergies. This groundbreaking treatment can minimize your fears about food allergies, possibly indefinitely. Learn what you need to know about this new treatment.
What Is OIT?
OIT is a treatment that gradually and very carefully reintroduces foods to which you are allergic.. The treatment allows the body’s immune system to become desensitized to the food and could lessen allergy symptoms when exposed in the future. The process is not designed to allow full introduction of the food into the diet. Instead, it is designed to reduce the symptoms if a food is eaten by mistake so you no longer have to live in constant fear of accidental exposure.
Who Is a Candidate?
Patients who are over four years of age or older and have a confirmed food allergy to peanut are candidates for OIT at our office. It is important to understand in this case the difference between a food intolerance and a food allergy. A food allergy is when the body’s immune system believes that the food is dangerous to the body, causing a systemic allergic reaction. Food allergy symptoms usually occur immediately after eating the food (within 30 minutes to 2 hours) and include hives/itchy rash, wheezing, trouble breathing, swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, abdominal cramps, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and loss of consciousness. Severe allergic reactions to foods can even lead to death if not immediately treated. OIT allows you to reduce or eliminate the severity of allergic reactions.
How Do You Get Started?
You can get started with OIT by contacting one of our offices for an appointment. At this time, we are only treating peanut allergy with OIT. If you or your child is at least four years of age and has a confirmed peanut allergy, we can help. If you are not certain of a peanut allergy, allergy testing and, if needed, an oral challenge procedure, can help determine if you are a candidate.
Do not live in fear of peanut allergy in the future. Conquer your fears today with the help of OIT and Allergy Tampa.
