Current Management of Food Allergies in Pediatric Patients

Food allergy is a growing public health concern affecting up to 8% of children. The underlying pathophysiology involves a complex interplay of genetic predisposition, microbiome dysbiosis, and environmental factors disrupting epithelial barrier integrity, leading to a spectrum of immune reactions. Diagnosis is a clinical process integrating a detailed patient history with sensitization tests, with the oral food challenge serving as the definitive tool. While strict avoidance and emergency epinephrine form the foundation of management, the paradigm is shifting toward proactive immunomodulatory therapies, including oral immunotherapy.