Food Immunotherapy

Helping you build tolerance so you can enjoy the foods you love

dr. patel

What is food immunotherapy?

Food immunotherapy is a treatment method that gradually increases your body’s tolerance to the foods that trigger an allergic reaction. By introducing your body to tiny allergen doses over an extended period of time, your immune system builds a natural tolerance, so you can enjoy foods without experiencing disruptive symptoms.

For example, your body might experience a reaction after consuming nuts, dairy products, gluten, shellfish, or eggs. Food immunotherapy exposes you to such small allergen doses, your body won’t be able to experience a severe reaction. After continuing and increasing these doses for an extended period of time, your immune system will develop a strong tolerance to your unique food allergen.

Your provider is a powerful ally in the fight against food allergies. They will work with you to create an individualized food immunotherapy plan so your body can learn how to tolerate the foods that once disrupted your health and peace of mind.

bubbles
lady with stomach painsman with headache

Common food allergy symptoms

Hives

Raised, red, itchy patches that suddenly appear on your skin are commonly known as hives. Hives could signal a severe reaction that warrants attention and food immunotherapy treatment from one of our compassionate providers.

Lip and/or Facial Swelling

If your body is triggered by a food allergy, your face, lips, and neck could begin to swell. Not only will this cause severe discomfort, but it could also restrict your breathing or eyesight.

Nausea

A food intolerance may cause nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea to occur, which prevents you from living a healthy lifestyle. Food immunotherapy can eventually reduce and eradicate this debilitating symptom for good.

Stomach Cramps

While deep abdominal pain and gas are common food allergy symptoms, you don’t need to keep living in aching pain for long.

Sneezing

Do you sneeze constantly after eating a certain food? Is your nose itchy, stuffy, and aggravated once you consume a specific ingredient? This is a common symptom that could point to a food allergy.

Throat Swelling

If you feel your throat closing up after finishing a snack, there is a high chance you suffer from a food allergy. Thanks to immunotherapy, you can be back to enjoying your favorite foods with ease.

Wheezing or Coughing

Labored breathing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and constant coughing are all signs that could point to a food allergy. Our providers are committed to helping you breathe easy through our food immunotherapy program.

Dizziness or Fainting

After eating a specific food, do you ever lose your balance, experience dizziness, or faint? If so, a food allergy may be compromising your immune system.

Low Blood Pressure

If a food ingredient triggers an allergic reaction, your body may experience abnormally high or low blood pressure levels. Through our food immunotherapy program, your body can learn to maintain healthy levels while you eat your favorite meals.

Becoming Unconscious

Losing consciousness after eating could be a food allergy that deserves immediate attention. Don’t hesitate to give us a call at (614) 328-9927 to get the care that can’t wait.

The food immunotherapy process

1.

medical history icon

To find out if you’re a candidate for food immunotherapy, your provider will review your medical history and ask questions about your symptoms. They may ask you to keep a food diary or administer a skin test to discover your body’s unique food allergies.

2.

timer icon

If food immunotherapy is right for you, your allergist will offer you daily doses in the first stages of treatment. Within 24 hours of your appointment, test results will be available to review on your patient portal.

3.

checkup icon

After this initial stage is complete, biweekly office visits will be recommended so you can  continue to build your body’s immunity. At this time, your provider will ask you to avoid hot showers or exercise for 2-4 hours after a food immunotherapy dose.

Frequently asked questions

Am I a good candidate for food immunotherapy?

Do you struggle with allergic reactions to an ingredient or food? Are there certain foods that you avoid to steer clear of pain and discomfort? Do you dream of enjoying meals without experiencing unpleasant side effects? If so, you may be a strong candidate for food immunotherapy. To ensure this treatment fits your needs, your provider will review your medical history, administer a skin test, and take the time to learn how you suffer from your reactions.

How long does food immunotherapy last?

After your initial food immunotherapy visit, you will be encouraged to attend biweekly office appointments for several months or years. While timelines vary for every patient, food reactions, infections, or patient tardiness can prolong the treatment process.

Is food immunotherapy safe?

Food immunotherapy is a safe treatment process to help you get rid of allergy symptoms for good. Since your provider is administering extremely small amounts of food allergens to your immune system, there is a less than 1 percent chance that you will experience a severe allergic reaction. After receiving a dose, your provider will monitor you to ensure your safety. We are equipped and trained to promptly treat any allergic reaction.

Dr. Patel