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In a groundbreaking initiative, infants with peanut allergies across hospitals in Australia will now have access to a life-changing treatment program aimed at developing tolerance to this common allergy. This pioneering program, a first of its kind globally, is a collaboration between the National Centre of Excellence in Allergy (NACE) and the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI).
Known as the ADAPT OIT Program, it is tailored for infants under 12 months diagnosed with peanut allergies and under the care of allergy specialists in ten pediatric hospitals across five states in Australia. The treatment, provided free of charge to eligible candidates, entails a carefully planned daily dose of peanut powder taken at home over a two-year period, as outlined by the MCRI.
The overarching goal is to shift the allergy management paradigm from strict peanut avoidance to fostering a safe tolerance and, ideally, achieving remission.
Professor Kirsten Perrett, NACE director and population allergy lead at MCRI, expressed the vision of reshaping the landscape of allergic diseases in Australia to enable more children to attend school without the looming threat of a potentially life-threatening peanut reaction.
Speaking with CNN in a phone interview, Perrett described the program, already in motion, as “truly exciting.”
“Babies under 12 months diagnosed with peanut allergies will be offered the treatment program as a novel standardized care model in these ten pediatric hospitals, and it will be provided free of charge, which is truly remarkable. These are public hospitals in Australia.”
Perrett anticipates a high demand for the program.
“Australia is the world’s allergy capital, with 5 million individuals affected by allergic conditions, and peanut allergy impacts around 3% of 12-month-old children in Australia. Hence, there are evidently numerous eligible children, and we hope to see hundreds of infants receiving treatment under this program within the initial two years.”
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