An update on oral immunotherapy for the treatment of food allergy

Food allergy is an important public health concern, affecting 10% of infants, 5–6% of children and 2% of adults in westernized countries. Current management involves food avoidance, education of patients and carers in the emergency management of allergic reactions and in some cases provision of an adrenaline autoinjector. Oral immunotherapy (OIT) has recently been explored as a potential treatment for food allergy. This review will discuss mechanisms of oral tolerance and summarize clinical and immunologic effects of OIT.