Australia is set to become the first country to offer oral immunotherapy (OIT) to babies with peanut allergies as part of a free program available to infants under 12 months old with diagnosed peanut allergies.

BBC News

The ADAPT OIT program will be available to eligible children at ten pediatric hospitals across five Australian states. Patients will receive a regular dosage of peanut powder, with the goal of safely building tolerance.

Director of the National Allergy Centre of Excellence (NACE) Kirsten Perrett says that OIT has only been available in clinical trials. Children in the program will eventually reach a maintenance dose of peanuts, which they must maintain for two years before halting treatment to monitor its effectiveness.

3% of Australian children develop a peanut allergy before turning one year old, and only 20% outgrow their allergy by adolescence.  Nearly 20% of Australians have an allergic disease, and that figure is expected to increase by 20% by 2025

Children will receive individualized dosages of the peanut powder, which could cause mild allergic reactions. The results could range from allowing a child to have peanuts in their diet to reducing the likelihood of a life-threatening allergic reaction.

Perrett said that Australia is the "allergy capital of the world," and was looking to shift its allergy strategy away from total avoidance. The American Academy of Pediatrics says that the evidence now supports introducing peanuts to children at a young age.

Australia is set to be become the first country to offer oral immunotherapy (OIT) to babies with peanut allergies as part of a free program for children diagnosed with the allergy under 12 months of age.

BBC News #

The ADAPT OIT program will be available for eligible children at ten pediatric hospitals across the country. Patients will receive a regular dosage of peanut powder, with the hopes of inducing a tolerance to peanuts in the children.

CNN #

Director of the National Allergy Centre of Excellence (NACE) Kirsten Perrett says that OIT has never been available outside of clinical trials in the country. Children in the program will eventually reach a maintenance dose of peanuts, which they must maintain for two years before halting treatment to see if it has been effective.

ABC #

3% of Australian children will have a peanut allergy before they are a year old, and only 20% outgrew them by the time they become adolescents. 20% of the general population has an allergic disease, with the number expected to climb in the coming years.

CNA #

Children will receive a personalized dosage of the peanut powder, and could cause mild allergic reactions. The results could range from allowing a child to have peanuts in their diet to reducing the likelihood of a life-threatening allergic reaction.

Perrett said that Australia is the "allergy capital of the world," and was looking to shift its allergy strategy away from total avoidance. The American Academy of Pediatrics says that the evidence is now in favor of introducing peanuts to children at a young age.

This is a program that could change the lives of countless children, and is a win for children's health. The evidence is becoming clear that early introduction of allergenic foods, such as peanuts, is the best way of preventing the onset of serious allergies. Keeping kids in bubble wrap and totally quarantining them from allergens may have done more harm than good.

The Arizona Republic

The Arizona Republic #

Can you prevent a peanut allergy in a baby? What the research tells us

We need to get to the root causes of the allergy epidemic worldwide. In Australia and elsewhere, allergies are exploding in prevalence, and OIT can only stem the tide for one particular ailment. We need to examine the chemicals that pollute our everyday lives and excise those which have been connected to allergies, such as omnipresent "forever chemicals."

Haberdoedas via Unsplash

Australia Launches Immunotherapy Trial for Babies with Peanut Allergies

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This is a program that could change the lives of countless children and is a win for children's health. The evidence is becoming clear that the early introduction of allergenic foods, such as peanuts, is the best way to prevent the onset of serious allergies. Keeping kids in bubble wrap and quarantining them from allergens may have done more harm than good.

While scientists and governments are eager to embrace OIT as the antidote to peanut allergies, many studies suggest that the treatment may not be effective. Exposure to peanuts in some form could decrease the chance of developing a severe allergy; however, a child as young as six months old could already have an allergy. And studies suggest that there's no effective treatment post-diagnosis.

Australia Launches Immunotherapy Trial for Babies with Peanut Allergies

Australia Launches Immunotherapy Trial for Babies with Peanut Allergies

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Australia Launches Immunotherapy Trial for Babies with Peanut Allergies

Australia Launches Immunotherapy Trial for Babies with Peanut Allergies

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