Services & Treatments

Oral Challenges for Food Allergy

A relatively small number of foods cause a large majority of food allergy reactions (cow’s milk, hen’s egg, soy, wheat, peanut, tree nuts, fish, and shellfish); however, patients can experience symptoms with any foods. Patients with symptoms consistent with a history of immediate-type food allergy can be tested and if appropriate, challenged in office for tolerance. Oral food desensitization is currently under investigation as a way to promote induction of oral tolerance. The mainstay of current treatment is avoidance, watch for risk of cross-contamination, and education on use of epinephrine. Some children do outgrow their food allergies; thus, monitoring blood levels and performing additional testing over months to years is very useful in helping to predict their chances of eventually tolerating the foods.