A practical focus on sesame allergy and a brief review of other seed allergies.

Although seed allergies are relatively rare, sesame allergy has been increasing worldwide and is typically persistent in most patients. Because allergen labeling laws, until just recently, have not required the declaration of sesame as a major allergen, there is a clear need to better understand and potentially treat this food allergy. Although blood and skin prick testing for sesame have limited predictive value, this improves with the use of component diagnostics and skin-prick test with fresh sesame.

Preparing Patients for Oral Immunotherapy (PPOINT): International Delphi consensus for procedural preparation and consent.

Background: Despite the promise of oral immunotherapy (OIT) to treat food allergies, this procedure is associated with potential risk. There is no current agreement about what elements should be included in the preparatory or consent process.

Objective: We developed consensus recommendations about the OIT process considerations and patient-specific factors that should be addressed before initiating OIT and developed a consensus OIT consent process and information form.

Age-Related Food Aversion and Anxiety Represent Primary Patient Barriers to Food Oral Immunotherapy.

Background: Although oral immunotherapy (OIT) for food allergy is a reasonable treatment option, barriers to this procedure's implementation have not been extensively evaluated from a patient perspective.

Objective: We evaluated the barriers patients face during OIT administration, including anxiety and taste aversion, and the role of health care professionals, especially dietitians.

Methods: A survey in Canada and the United States involved families currently enrolled in food OIT programs.

Community Private Practice Clinical Experience with Peanut Oral Immunotherapy.

Background: Peanut oral immunotherapy is an effective treatment for desensitizing peanut-allergic patients, but the frequency of adverse reactions has limited its widespread use.

Objective: To review the frequency of adverse reactions that patients on peanut oral immunotherapy experience during build-up and maintenance phases and explore factors that may contribute to adverse events.

Methods: A retrospective chart review of children and adults with peanut allergy undergoing peanut oral immunotherapy at the New England Food Allergy Treatment Center in West Hartford, Conn was performed.

Oral immunotherapy for peanut allergy: multipractice experience with epinephrine-treated reactions.

Background: Peanut allergy creates the risk of life-threatening anaphylaxis that can disrupt psychosocial development and family life. The avoidance management strategy often fails to prevent anaphylaxis and may contribute to social dysfunction. Peanut oral immunotherapy may address these problems, but there are safety concerns regarding implementation in clinical practice.

Effect of oral immunotherapy to peanut on food-specific quality of life.

Background: Peanut allergy is an increasingly common problem for which the only available treatment is avoidance. Oral immunotherapy has shown promise for increasing tolerance of peanut in allergic children. Food allergy has an effect on the quality of life of children and adolescents.