Helping Children Live with More Confidence

For families managing food allergies, everyday activities like school lunches, birthday parties and family gatherings can come with added worry. Oral immunotherapy (OIT) is a treatment designed to reduce the risk of severe allergic reactions from accidental exposures and help children and families feel more confident navigating daily life.

At Summit Health, our allergy specialists offer OIT for children as young as 1 year old with peanut allergies and other common food allergies, including select tree nuts (cashew, walnut, hazelnut, almond) and sesame, milk and egg. Treatment begins under close medical supervision and is carefully monitored throughout the process.

A Comprehensive OIT Program in One Convenient Location

Summit Health’s OIT program combines expert allergy care, dedicated infusion center resources and ongoing support from a specialized team.

Patients benefit from: 

  • Evaluation by board-certified allergy and immunology specialists 
  • Treatment for peanut, select tree nuts (cashew, walnut, hazelnut, almond), sesame, milk and egg
  • Initial dosing in a dedicated infusion center and up dosing in the office setting with a physician present 
  • Continuous monitoring by an allergist and nurse during treatment 
  • Regular follow-up visits and dose adjustments 
  • Convenient access to care with minimal wait times 
  • Ongoing guidance and support for families throughout treatment 

How Oral Immunotherapy Works

Oral immunotherapy gradually introduces small amounts of food allergen under medical supervision. Over time, the dose is carefully increased to help the body become less sensitive to the allergen. 

The goal of OIT is not to cure food allergies or allow unrestricted consumption of the allergen. Instead, treatment helps create a safety buffer against accidental exposures by increasing the amount of allergens a child can tolerate before experiencing a severe allergic reaction.

What to Expect During Treatment

The first step is to consult with an allergist to determine whether OIT is right for your child. 

Treatment begins at Summit Health’s dedicated infusion center in Berkeley Heights, where children receive their initial doses under close supervision from an allergist and nurse. This visit typically lasts three to four hours.

Following the initial visit, patients continue daily dosing at home and return approximately every two weeks for monitored dose increases in the office. Over the course of about six months, the dose gradually increases until a maintenance level is reached.

Benefits of Oral Immunotherapy

For many families, OIT can provide: 

  • Reduced risk from accidental allergen exposure 
  • Greater confidence in school, social and family settings 
  • Less anxiety surrounding food-related activities and travel 
  • Improved quality of life for children and caregivers 
  • Ongoing support from an experienced allergy team 

Is Oral Immunotherapy Right for Your Child?

OIT may be an option for children as young as 1 year old with a diagnosed food allergy. Most patients continue a daily maintenance dose after treatment and must still avoid their allergen, read food labels carefully and carry epinephrine.

An evaluation with an allergist can help determine whether OIT is appropriate based on your child’s allergy history, age and overall health.

Why Choose Summit Health? 

Summit Health provides oral immunotherapy in a dedicated infusion center setting with physician and nursing supervision during treatment initiation. Our dedicated center provides a controlled medical environment to safely build your tolerance to food allergens. 

Because this therapy involves intentionally ingesting the foods you are allergic to, there is always a potential that severe allergic reactions may occur.  With our team of experts providing care in this dedicated center, we are trained to handle these potential reactions, and can administer emergency medications like epinephrine, antihistamines, and nebulized treatments to stabilize you. 

Schedule an Appointment

If your child has a food allergy and you’d like to learn whether oral immunotherapy may be an option, schedule an appointment with a Summit Health allergist today.