VIDEO: Education on introducing infants to allergens key to preventing food allergies

Key takeaways:

• Guidelines recommend introducing infants to allergens between age 4 and 6 months.
• Physicians may benefit from training about implementing these guidelines.
• Educational materials are available.

PARK CITY, Utah — Educating caregivers and physicians alike about the early introduction of potential allergens into infant diets is key to preventing allergies among these children later in life, John M. James, MD, told Healio.

Between age 4 and 6 months, infants with eczema or egg allergy can be introduced to peanut, egg and other highly allergenic foods.

“There are guidelines ... in the United States that have been looking at this for some time now,” James, who is a medical consultant in food allergy and other allergenic diseases, said during the Association of PAs in Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (APA-AAI) Annual Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Conference.

“We can talk about these guidelines as much as we want. But if we don’t implement them at the basic level, through the parents, primary care offices and other health care clinics, then we’re not going to be successful,” he said.

Multiple government, professional and patient organizations offer materials that can help physicians to talk about early introduction with the families they treat, James said.

“That was really the basic focus of my presentation today,” James said, “to educate, implement the guidelines, in hopes of preventing food allergies in these young infants who are at risk.”

Reference:

James JM. Food allergy prevention: Applying current guidelines and overcoming adoption barriers. Presented at: APA-AAI Annual Allergy, Asthma & Immunology CME Conference; Park City, Utah; July 27-30, 2023.

For more information:

John M. James, MD, can be reached at jm.james59@outlook.com.