THE EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF ORAL IMMUNOTHERAPY FOR FOOD ALLERGIES IN PRESCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN

Abstract

In the last two decades, food allergy (FA) has emerged as a significant concern, with a continuous rise in prevalence worldwide. Furthermore, increasing awareness about this issue in the general public has prompted rigorous efforts to find long-term solutions to FA. In the pediatric group, most cases of FA are reported during the initial 3 to 5 years. The most common FA in preschoolers include eggs, cows milk, tree nuts, and peanuts. Conventional approaches for the management of FA include mitigating adverse reactions associated with the consumption of food allergens and avoidance of that particular food allergen. However, constant avoidance remains a challenge, requiring constant due diligence. Therefore, Oral immunotherapy (OIT), an allergen-specific method for managing FA has been introduced. The present review provides an overview of the mechanisms and processes of OIT. The most common OITs studied include peanut, tree nuts, egg, and milk OITs. Furthermore, the literature search yielded significant evidence that showed the safety and efficacy of these OITs. The review also identified the gaps in the literature, which highlight the need for future investigations. Future studies should focus on conducting well-designed clinical trials with larger sample sizes, establishing standardized treatment protocols, investigating immunological mechanisms, and assessing the broader impact of OIT.