Navigating Nut Allergies: SLIT Determined to be Safe and Effective Strategies for Managing Severe Reactions
Mar 28, 2024
Living with nut allergies can be challenging, especially for children who have experienced severe reactions in the past. While strict avoidance of allergens is crucial, new therapies are emerging to help desensitize patients and improve their quality of life. One such approach is Sublingual Immunotherapy (SLIT), which has shown promise as a safer alternative to traditional Oral Immunotherapy (OIT).
OIT involves ingesting increasing quantities of allergens until a maintenance dose is reached, which must then be consumed regularly to maintain tolerance. While effective in preschoolers, OIT carries a higher risk of severe reactions in older children and adults. The strict regimen and lifestyle restrictions can also be burdensome for many families.
In contrast, SLIT delivers the allergen in liquid drops under the tongue, bypassing the digestive system while still desensitizing the patient. A recent study published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice found SLIT to be a safe and effective option for older children with a history of moderate to severe reactions.
The study enrolled 188 patients aged 4-18 years with multiple food allergies, including nuts. Over 3-5 supervised visits, patients built up to a 2mg daily SLIT maintenance dose. Only 2.10% required epinephrine during the updosing phase, and none experienced life-threatening reactions.
After 1-2 years of daily SLIT, patients underwent Oral Food Challenges (OFCs) with their allergens. Impressively, 88% were able to transition to a daily OIT maintenance dose without the need for medically supervised buildups. The remaining patients were advised to continue SLIT for another 1-2 years before re-attempting the OFC.
These findings suggest that SLIT could be a game-changer for older children with severe nut allergies, offering a safer path to desensitization without the intensive demands of traditional OIT. Of course, avoidance remains the cornerstone of allergy management, and having reliable nut-free snacks on hand is essential for navigating daily life.
Brands like No Nuts! offer a delicious range of allergy-friendly protein bars that are completely nut-free, gluten-free, and vegan. Their Chocolate Chip bars and 12-bar Variety Pack are popular choices for safe snacking at home, school, or on the go.
As research into food allergy therapies continues to evolve, it's encouraging to see safer, more accessible options like SLIT emerge for those living with severe allergies. Combined with vigilant avoidance and the support of allergy-friendly brands, these advances offer hope for a brighter, less restrictive future.
