Options exist for treating pediatric food allergies

Options exist for treating pediatric food allergies

In the United States, one to four percent of children and about three percent of adults have some kind of food allergy. On the surface, that sounds like a small number, but for adults alone, that's still more than 10 million people.

One of the most common is the peanut allergy, and according to Emplify Health by Gundersen pediatric allergist Samantha Knox, MD, those with a diagnosed case are becoming more widespread - due mainly to awareness of it. Luckily, the way peanut allergies are treated is changing, and intervention can happen as young as six months old.

"We offer a service called oral immunotherapy, particularly for infants and toddlers, because I found there was a lot of them coming through with peanut allergy, and I feel like this was the time to intervene, when the immune system was a little bit more pliable," Dr. Knox says. "It's been really game-changing for a lot of families to have that option to do a desensitization treatment."

Emplify Health by Gundersen is also participating in a safety study that would allow children one to three years old to wear a patch rather than ingesting the peanut product.

"It's a commitment, in terms of these treatments, and there's a lot of follow up, and we have to make sure these treatments are working," she says. "Nonetheless, there are options now, going from just wait and see to, we could intervene on this."

Though this and a variety of other studies on food and peanut allergies are taking place, Dr. Knox says avoiding reactive food altogether and carrying epinephrine, better known as an EpiPen, is still the best way to avoid an allergic reaction.

So how do you know if your child is allergic to a certain food? What do you look for? Dr. Knox says repetitive instances of skin changes and vomiting are clear signs that something is amiss, in addition to sneezing, swelling around the eyes, itchy eyes, coughing and wheezing.

"Typically, food allergy is an immune reaction, and you're going to see a repetitive pattern with the food," she says. "In a classic food allergy, every time they eat that food, they're going to develop some sort of symptom."

If you believe your child has developed a pattern and may have a food allergy, the best thing to do is see your primary care provider, who can then refer you to specialized care with an allergist. Or call Emplify Health by Gundersen Allergy and Immunology at (608) 775-3400 to set up an appointment.