It involves gradually increasing exposure over a period of time, and maintaining it.
Peanut allergies affect an estimated 1 million kids and 4.5 million adults now living in the United States.
For years, having an EpiPen on hand has been the only real way to deal with a potentially deadly allergic attack. Scientists have been slowly puzzling their way towards to an alternative answer, but it’s remained elusive.
Until now. A new treatment is now available in the form of a peanut allergy drug. It’s said to offer “protection but not a cure”, which may not be the answer of your dreams, but it’s better than nothing, right?
The drug is the first of its kind approved for use in children in the U.S. by the FDA, and it’s called Drug AR101, or Palforzia.
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The treatment uses oral immunotherapy over a 6-month period to increase a patient’s tolerance to peanuts. It’s all done under medical supervision. An allergic child is given small doses of the drug in the form of a powder sprinkled over food. The amount given is gradually increased as time passes, and patients are said to gain a tolerance to peanuts, at least to some degree.
For continuing therapy, patients go on to take a daily dose of the medicine. This is said to help protect against accidental exposure to the nuts.
Sounds great, but who is this for? Palforzia is now available for patients aged 4 to 17.
For more on this treatment, click here.
