When food allergies occur in your life, it can be highly stressful to avoid certain foods constantly. If contact occurs, it can lead to anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening condition if not treated immediately. If you’re searching for ways to treat your food allergies and reduce your symptoms, our TexasAllergyMD team can help with oral immunotherapy!
What is Oral Immunotherapy?
Oral Immunotherapy (OIT) works to help patients with food allergies by building up their tolerance to allergenic foods. Through small, gradually increasing doses of the allergen over time, it works to desensitize the immune system to the allergen and reduce the severity of allergic reactions.
Our oral immunotherapy treatment at TexasAllergyMD can help treat a wide range of food allergies, including but not limited to:
- Soy
- Fish
- Shellfish
- Peanuts
- Tree nuts
- Wheat
- Eggs
- Milk
How Does Oral Immunotherapy Work?
During oral Immunotherapy, you will be given small doses of the allergen in the form of food extract or powder to start the process. Over time, the doses will be gradually increased over several months. It’s important to consume the allergen daily, either in a clinic or at home under medical supervision, to complete the process, as this works with your immune system to help it develop a tolerance to the allergen.
Overall, this treatment can take several months, and patients typically continue taking maintenance doses of the allergen for several years to maintain their tolerance.
The Benefits of Oral Immunotherapy
Oral Immunotherapy works similarly to food sublingual therapy, as both of these treatments help provide alternative solutions for those unable to manage their symptoms with medications or avoid triggers. However, oral immunotherapy can provide many excellent benefits for those with multiple severe food allergies, including:
- Improved quality of life: Oral Immunotherapy can help patients with food allergies begin consuming previously off-limits foods, thereby improving their quality of life and reducing anxiety and stress.
- Reduced Severe Reactions Risk: By gradually introducing the allergen to the immune system, oral Immunotherapy can reduce the risk of severe allergic reactions for those at risk of accidental exposure.
- Potential long-term protection: Oral Immunotherapy offers the ability to have potential long-term protection against allergic reactions, even after the treatment is complete.
- Individualized treatment: Most of all, oral Immunotherapy is a personalized treatment that can be customized to each patient’s specific needs and adjusted over time to help your body reduce triggers and regain a sense of normalcy back into your life.
Contact TexasAllergyMD For Oral Immunotherapy Options!
Our team at TexasAllergyMD offers oral Immunotherapy as a treatment option for patients with food allergies. Under the care of Dr. Nana Mireku, we can help determine if oral Immunotherapy is right for you or your child and develop a customized treatment plan to help you build up your tolerance to allergenic foods.
If you want to learn more about oral Immunotherapy, don’t hesitate to contact us to schedule a consultation. Meet with our team at our McKinney/Prosper Clinic (1400 North Coit Road, Suite 405, McKinney, TX 75071) or at our Southlake Clinic (630 North Kimball Ave, Suite #110, Southlake, TX 76092). We’re here to help you find relief from your severe food allergies and help you breathe and live better.
