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find relief from food allergies
The Food Allergy Institute of North Texas is a state of the art food allergy institute focused on innovative testing, treatment and education. Our clinic is staffed by dedicated nurses and board certified allergists who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of food allergies.
Today over 6 million children and 9 million adults in the US suffer from food allergies. Every 3 minutes an allergic reaction to food sends someone to the emergency room. Until recently the only solution for food allergies was strict avoidance of the allergen. We are excited to offer services for treating food allergies.
Oral Immunotherapy or Oral Induction of Tolerance is a form of desensitization which involves gradually consuming increasing amounts of the food allergen over weeks and months resulting in desensitizing allergic individuals to these foods.
Studies have shown that the OIT process can be done safely and effectively. The number one goal of OIT is safety: to avoid anaphylaxis if the allergic food is accidently ingested. By reducing the risk of anaphylaxis, patients and their families experience less fear and anxiety over accidental exposures and gain overall improvement in quality of life (eating at restaurants, enjoying birthday parties, traveling, etc).
The first initial day of OIT takes about 6 hours in our office. The remainder of the program requires weekly clinic visits that will last about an hour and a half. The duration of the program is different for each individual, but is typically around 6 months. After you finish the program you will still be required to take a daily maintenance dose.
Patients who have a history of anaphylaxis to certain foods AND a positive skin test and/or blood test are eligible. Patients who have been diagnosed with Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE) are not candidates.
Allergy Testing is performed to determine what foods your system reacts to the most. These reactions are measured to determine the sensitivity. Our physicians will review your results and potential treatment plans.
If you have allergies or suspect you have allergies to certain foods a food challenge can help determine your sensitivity to those foods. It can be difficult to totally avoid foods that you have allergies to so challenges can be used to determine what amount of the food causes reactions. Peanut challenges and milk challenges can be useful when trying to maintain a healthy diet.
Do you know what to eat in order to lead a healthy lifestyle or achieve a specific health-related goals? Our dietitian can help you answer nutrition and food questions.
We offer resources to help provide a clearer understanding of the issues surrounding food allergies and providing helpful resources. Click here to learn more.
