Helping kids overcome food allergies
May 9, 2024
New research from Dr. Edmond Chan promises to help older and high-risk children
Food allergies affect nearly 600,000 Canadian children and one in two Canadian households. But a cutting-edge research program led by Dr. Edmond Chan is helping B.C. children overcome these challenges — even allowing kids to safely consume the foods that would have previously caused a near-fatal reaction.
Dr. Chan and his team at the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute are developing what’s called food allergy immunotherapies. These innovative treatments involve gradually exposing children to allergens under medical supervision, with the hope that, over time, they will build up resilience and be able to safely consume the food at home.
In 2019, the team at the Food Allergy Immunotherapy Program was the first in the world to show that oral immunotherapy (OIT) for pre-schoolers was safe and effective in the real world.
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