“I do think it's important that we understand that not all the foods are the same, and I think anyone who's seen patients in clinics understands this.” – Dr. Edwin Kim

Could sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) be the peanut allergy solution allergists have been waiting for? In this episode, Dr. Mariam Hanna welcomes Dr. Edwin Kim, Division Chief of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology at the University of North Carolina, to dive into the science, practicality, and potential of SLIT. With a reputation for safety and ease of use, SLIT is gaining traction—but as Dr. Kim emphasizes, the evidence for other foods like milk, egg, and tree nuts remains extremely limited.

On this episode:

• What is SLIT? A low-dose therapy held under the tongue, offering bite-proof protection with minimal side effects like mouth itch, making it a low-risk option for many patients.
• Why choose SLIT? Why some patients prefer SLIT’s simplicity, including fewer restrictions on exercise and observation, compared to oral immunotherapy.
• Why peanuts? SLIT shows strong results for peanuts, but research on expanding to milk, egg, and tree nuts is still in its early stages, with unique challenges for each food.
• Who benefits most? Younger patients who thrive on routine and those seeking protection from accidental exposures without needing to eat large quantities of allergens.
• What lies ahead? Optimizing dosing for different foods, improving outcomes for patients with low thresholds, and expanding access to non-peanut allergens.

Whether you’re curious about incorporating SLIT into clinical practice or exploring its limits, this episode delivers evidence-based insights. Tune in now to see if SLIT is the right fit for your patients!

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The Allergist is produced for CSACI by PodCraft Productions