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Stopping criteria for oral food challenges and treating through mild reactions

Question:

9/7/2022
What are the recommendations for continuing or stopping a food challenge if mild mouth itching and lip swelling occurs? We have a 4-year-old who underwent a food challenge with peanut (peanut IgE 0.17 ku/L, ara H2 0.15 ku/L) and developed the above symptoms after the third "dose" of peanut. The symptoms were mild and he was given cetirizine with rapid improvement. What is the consensus on how to proceed. Repeat food challenge? Allow parents to give small amount of peanut at home? etc.

Answer:

In general, oral food challenges should be stopped for any objective signs of an allergic reaction. Treating through objective reactions is not recommended. Repeating the oral food challenge in the future would be a reasonable way to proceed.

Please review the AAAAI media library for additional detail.
https://www.aaaai.org/Aaaai/media/Media-Library-PDFs/Allergist%20Resources/Statements%20and%20Practice%20Parameters/Jan-2020-Conducting-an-Oral-Food-Challenge.pdf

Eric Macy, MD, MS, FAAAAI