World's first immunotherapy for peanut allergy in babies starts in Australia
Peanut allergy is one of the most common forms of food allergies in the world
Australia has started the world's first immunotherapy sessions for babies with peanut allergy, a food reaction that could be fatal in some cases. The oral immunotherapy will be started in five states, making it available for the first time in hospitals and ouside of the clinical trials.
Babies aged under 12 months who have peanut allergy can undergo theimmunotherapy. Australia's National Allergy Centre of Excellence (NACE) hopes to extend it to more areas if it is effective.
Noting that there has been no widely available treatment for peanut allegey, director of NACE Prof Kirsten Perrett said the new therapy sessons aim "to change the way the most common food allergy in Asustralian children is managed."
"Ultimately, we want to change the trajectory of allergic disease in Australia so that more children can go to school without the risk of a life-threatening peanut reaction," Australian Broadcasting Corporation quoted Perrett as saying.
What is peanut allergy immunotherapy?
The treatment involves giving carefully measured doses of peanut powder to the babies over a period of time.
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Eventually, the children will reach a "maintenance dose" which can be continued for two years before stopping to see if the treatment has been effective, ABC quoted programme lead Dr Tim Brettig as saying.
What is peanut allergy?
One of the most common food allergies, peanut allergy happens when body identifies peanuts or peanut-containing food as harmful and generates an immune reaction.
The allergy symptoms include rashes, vomiting, hives, swelling, sneezing, asthma attack, abdominal pain, drop in blood pressure, diarrhea.
In worst cases, it could lead to cardiac arrests.
(with inputs from agencies)
