Having allergies has been a struggle for everyone. Especially little kids. In 2015, preschool kids were at the top of the list when it came to allergies. 40% of the United States’ population suffers from a day-to-day allergy. That’s more than 50 million Americans every year! When children go to school or a friend’s house, they may not be aware of their pre-existing allergies because they are so young. If they consume a food that contains this, it could be bad news. That’s why researchers characterized an immunotherapy to put your allergies on hold. 

 An allergy is a condition in which the immune system reacts abnormally to a foreign substance. There are different types of allergies such as latex allergies, drug allergies, seasonal allergies, animal allergies and many more. The most common allergy in America is the peanut allergy, followed by milk and shellfish. Having a peanut allergy is very common and happens to upwards of 3 million people each year. Still to this day, the cause of this trigger from the body is unknown. But luckily, scientists have found a way to maintain it, unlike some other diseases in the world. Allergies are worst when the person is in their childhood, but mostly resolve in adulthood. 

Scientists found a way to stop the allergy, it is called Immunotherapy (IT), most people call it “desensitization”. They first discovered this all the way back in 1911, but it is safe to say it has advanced in the last two decades. Immunotherapy is when a doctor slowly introduces the body to an allergen over a span of 9 – 12 months. But of course times vary between each person because people’s bodies react differently. It is usually carried out by building up the dosages until the patient reaches a steady Daily Maintenance Dose. The allergen is preferred to be injected into a soft food so the person won’t really taste it too much. It is more sufficient to do it this way because a lot of people have a fear of needles. But, it could also be injected into the arm with a needle by a doctor, or if you are comfortable with it you can do it at home yourself once you get used to it. After what seems like a long year but such a short one, patients with allergies to wheat, egg, peanuts, tree nuts and milk will be able to consume these foods with absolutely no allergic reaction. Patients have a 75% + success rate with consuming food that they once found life threatening. This is practiced all over the globe but, Food Allergy Treatment The Center for Allergy and Immunology in Kansas City prioritizes it. 

Most parents ask “Is it FDA approved?” OIT does not need to be FDA approved because it does not utilize a medical device or medication. It is not approved or disapproved by the FDA.

All in all, Immunotherapy has saved many lives and made people’s lives easier to live thanks to all of the scientists who have researched this since 1911. People no longer have to ask waiters at restaurants, “does this contain peanuts”?