Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 9, 2026

Oral Transmission of Listeria monocytogenes in Mice via Ingestion of Contaminated Food
08:38

Oral Transmission of Listeria monocytogenes in Mice via Ingestion of Contaminated Food

Published on: May 6, 2013

20.1K

Safety of Oral Food Challenges in Early Life

Katherine Anagnostou1,2

  • 1Section of Immunology, Allergy and Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA. Aikaterini.Anagnostou@bcm.edu.

Children (Basel, Switzerland)
|June 1, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Oral food challenges in infants are safe, with 94% of high-risk infants showing no allergic reaction. When reactions occurred, symptoms were mild and skin-limited, suggesting sensitization over true allergy.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
  • Clinical Nutrition
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Increasing prevalence of infant food allergies necessitates reliable diagnostic methods.
  • Early food introduction guidelines are driving demand for oral food challenges (OFCs).
  • Safety data for OFCs in high-risk infants requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the safety of oral food challenges in infants and young children.
  • To assess the outcomes of OFCs in a cohort of high-risk infants.
  • To differentiate between sensitization and true food allergy in infants.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective evaluation of 18 infants undergoing OFC for common allergens (peanut, tree nuts, sesame, baked egg, baked milk, soy).
  • Inclusion criteria: high-risk infants with prior reactions or no known exposure.
  • Consecutive enrollment in a dedicated food allergy clinic.

Main Results:

  • A high rate of negative OFCs was observed (17/18, 94%).
  • Only one infant (6%) experienced a positive reaction, with mild, skin-limited symptoms.
  • The majority of infants were found to be sensitized rather than truly allergic.

Conclusions:

  • Oral food challenges are a safe procedure in infants and young children up to 2 years of age.
  • Adverse reactions during OFCs in this age group are typically mild and cutaneous.
  • OFCs can help distinguish between food sensitization and clinical allergy in infants.

Keywords:
anaphylaxisfood allergyinfantoral food challenge

More Related Videos

Quasi-metagenomic Analysis of Salmonella from Food and Environmental Samples06:12

Quasi-metagenomic Analysis of Salmonella from Food and Environmental Samples

Published on: October 25, 2018

9.1K
Controlled-release of Chlorine Dioxide in a Perforated Packaging System to Extend the Storage Life and Improve the Safety of Grape Tomatoes07:07

Controlled-release of Chlorine Dioxide in a Perforated Packaging System to Extend the Storage Life and Improve the Safety of Grape Tomatoes

Published on: April 7, 2017

11.6K

Related Concept Videos

Characteristics of Life01:23

Characteristics of Life

Biology is a natural science that studies life and living organisms, including their structure, function, development, interactions, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. The field's scope is extensive and divided into several specialized disciplines, such as anatomy, physiology, ethology, genetics, and many more. All living things share a few key traits, including cellular organization, heritable genetic material and the ability to adapt/evolve, metabolism to regulate energy needs, the...
262.5K
Half-life of a Reaction02:42

Half-life of a Reaction

The half-life of a reaction (t1/2) is the time required for one-half of a given amount of reactant to be consumed. In each succeeding half-life, half of the remaining concentration of the reactant is consumed. For example, during the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide, during the first half-life (from 0.00 hours to 6.00 hours), the concentration of H2O2 decreases from 1.000 M to 0.500 M. During the second half-life (from 6.00 hours to 12.00 hours), the concentration decreases from 0.500 M to...
39.2K
Survey Safety01:28

Survey Safety

Surveying near highways, rough terrain, or power lines involves significant risks. Working along highways is particularly dangerous and requires the use of warning signs and flagmen. It is safest to avoid working directly on roads and use offsets whenever possible. When highway work is unavoidable, it must follow all safety guidelines. Surveyors should wear bright clothing, such as orange reflective vests, to ensure visibility to motorists, coworkers, and hunters. In construction zones, wearing...
413
The Angiosperm Life Cycle02:39

The Angiosperm Life Cycle

Plants have a life cycle split between two multicellular stages: a haploid stage—with cells containing one set of chromosomes—and a diploid stage—with cells containing two sets of chromosomes. The haploid stage is the gamete-producing gametophyte, and the diploid stage is the spore-producing sporophyte.
72.7K
The Tree of Life - Bacteria, Archaea, Eukaryotes02:40

The Tree of Life - Bacteria, Archaea, Eukaryotes

The “tree of life” describes the evolution of life and the evolutionary relationships between organisms. The root of the tree is the common ancestor to all life on Earth. All other species radiate from this point, much like the branches of a tree. The numerous tips of these branches on the tree of life represent every living, or extant, species. Extinct species, which are species that no longer exist, can be found towards the center of the tree. Currently, these organisms, both...
39.0K
Oral Cavity01:11

Oral Cavity

The oral cavity, or the mouth, is a complex structure in humans that plays a vital role in our day-to-day lives. Its role is not only in chewing and swallowing food; it also plays a role in speech and facial expressions.
Teeth: The teeth are the hardest structures in our bodies. Humans have two sets of teeth throughout their lifetime: deciduous (baby) teeth and permanent teeth. Each tooth consists of several parts: the crown (visible part), the root (embedded in the jaw), enamel (hard outer...
3.2K