Private MD News

Study: Children may be able to reverse food allergy

Category: Allergy Testing

Though a food allergy test can help parents to avoid certain foods for their children, a new study has found that some allergies may be able to be overcome through a gradual dosing.

Researchers from Johns Hopkins Children's Center in Baltimore have revisited a 2008 study and followed up with some of the participants.
In last year's study, children with a severe milk allergy reported they were able to overcome their condition by gradually incorporating milk and other daily products into their diet.

With the follow-up, researchers asked 18 children between the ages of 6 and 16 to return to the clinic. Out of the 18 that were asked back, six continued to have no reaction after drinking 16 ounces of milk while seven had mild reactions.

"We now have evidence from other studies that some children once successfully treated remain allergy-free even without daily exposure, while in others the allergies return once they stop regular daily exposure to milk," said senior author Dr Robert Wood, director of Allergy & Immunology at Johns Hopkins Children's Center.

Children who get an allergy tests will be able to know if they should avoid certain foods, which could be lifesaving as they grow older.