Sesame OIT - FAQ in Allergy Clinic
Sesame OIT is a treatment in which you gradually eat tiny amounts of sesame under medical supervision, gradually increasing the dose over time to help your body become less allergic.
The goal is to reduce your risk of severe reactions from accidental sesame exposure.
Once we have made a rigorous diagnosis of Sesame Allergy, we will offer Sesame OIT within our Allergy Centre of Excellence.
Does Sesame OIT work?
Studies show that about 88-95% of people who complete sesame OIT can tolerate much larger amounts of sesame than before treatment, which is also true within our ACE program.
Sesame OIT offers better protection against accidental exposures and the ability to eat foods that may contain traces of sesame.
In many patients, at the end of at least a year of maintenance dosing, higher amounts of sesame will be tolerated, and the doses need not be taken every day; we can reduce to one to three days of dosing per week.
What are the side effects of Sesame OIT?
You may experience allergic reactions during treatment, including mouth itching, stomach upset, or skin reactions.
Most reactions are mild, but some people (8-17%, depending on the study) may need adrenaline during treatment. In our ACE service, using our regimen and without our strict and close monitoring of your therapy, severe reactions requiring adrenaline are <10%, especially in very young children who seem to tolerate this best.
Reactions tend to decrease once you reach the maintenance dose.
What else should I know before commencing Sesame OIT?
Sesame OIT must be performed in a specialised safe allergy centre, such as ACE, under close medical supervision. Allergy specialists should guide therapy.
You'll need to take your daily sesame dose consistently, and the treatment requires a long-term commitment. Depending on your journey and tests over time, a less rigorous regimen may be offered.
The therapy can significantly improve quality of life by reducing anxiety about accidental exposures and expanding food choices.
Prof du Toit has co-authored recent EAACI guidelines on the management of IgE-mediated food allergy, including Sesame Allergy. EAACI guidelines on the management of IgE-mediated food allergy
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sesame allergy is an IgE-mediated food allergy that affects approximately 0.1-0.2% of the population in the UK and other Western countries
Sesame Allergy typically develops in early childhood and is one of the least likely food allergies to be outgrown, with only about 20-30% of children naturally losing their allergy over time.
Symptoms range from mild reactions like hives, itching, and gastrointestinal upset to severe anaphylaxis, which occurs in approximately 30-50% of sesame-allergic individuals.
Reactions are usually triggered by sesame seeds in hummus and tahinni, where there are greater concentrations of the allergen.
Diagnosis involves clinical history, skin prick testing, and sesame-specific IgE blood tests. Component-resolved diagnostics measuring Ses i 1 can help predict severity, as higher levels are associated with more severe reactions. If the disagnosis remains uncertain, we undertake oral food challenges.
Management traditionally relies on strict avoidance and carrying epinephrine auto-injectors or Nasal Adreanline (Neffy).
Sesame is now recognized as a major allergen in many countries, requiring mandatory labeling on packaged foods in the US (as of 2023), Canada, UK, EU, and Australia.
Hidden sources include tahini, halva, baked goods, and cosmetics.
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Eligibility includes:
A firm diagnosis of Sesame Seed Allergy
A decicion based on shared decision making
Controlled stable asthma
In ACE, we do not yet offer this treatment for those older than 18 years
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The Sesame OIT regimen in ACE involves at least 8 supervised updosing visits in our bespoke 10 Duchess Street facility.
If more visits are required, for whatever reson, thisis built into the year long program of supervision
At the end of a years treatment we will discuss options wrt higher dosing, or less frequent dosing.
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Yes, within ACE we can offer OIT to three allergens simultaneously for children < 6 years of age, 2 allergens for those < 12 years of age, and for one allergen at a time for older children.
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If your child is showing signs of a food, pollen, or skin allergy, early diagnosis is key. At London Allergy Consultants, our expert team provides trusted, evidence-based care tailored to your child’s needs. From testing to treatment plans, we guide you every step of the way.
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Sesame Oral Immunotherapy (OIT) has emerged as a Sesame Oral Immunotherapy (OIT) has become a medical therapy for children with severe sesame allergies. Unlike simple avoidance, OIT aims to retrain the immune system by allowing the regular, supervised consumption of small amounts of sesame protein.