Jonathan B. Bell, MD
Educational background:
Medical School: Georgetown University School of Medicine
Residency (Pediatrics): St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, Temple University Allergy and Immunology
Fellowship: Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (University of Pennsylvania)
Certifications, Professorships, and Affiliations:
Board Certified by: American Board of Allergy and Immunology, American Board of Pediatrics
Fellow of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
Fellow of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics – New York Medical College
Past President of the Connecticut Allergy Society.
Dr. Bell specializes in asthma, nasal allergy, food allergy, stinging insect allergy, drug allergy, hives, and eosinophilic esophagitis.
In his spare time, Dr. Bell enjoys playing tennis and traveling with his wife.
Goals of OIT Treatment
The goal of Oral Immunotherapy (Peanut Desensitization) is to increase the individual’s ability to consume a food to which they are allergic without triggering an allergic reaction, i.e., increase one’s tolerance to that food. By increasing one’s tolerance, accidental ingestion is much less likely to trigger a worrisome allergic reaction. This creates a safety net in case of accidental exposure. Patients should continue to avoid that food, other than in their treatment doses.
Oral Immunotherapy has been successfully accomplished at research centers and in private practice settings, for individuals with food allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, cow’s milk and egg. Advanced Allergy and Asthma Care has initiated a food allergy desensitization program utilizing oral immunotherapy for individuals who are allergic to peanuts. Additional foods may be added to the desensitization program in the future.
Oral Desensitization
The traditional approach to food allergy consists of avoiding the food to which one is allergic, and keeping medications available for emergency use.
Oral Immunotherapy, involves cautiously eating the food to which one is allergic, while being monitored in a medical facility. Doses of the food are administered by mouth. The initial dose of the food administered is designed to be small, so that it is unlikely to trigger an allergic reaction. The amount of food consumed is slowly increased over time. Since this desensitization process occurs in a medical facility, under the supervision of your allergist, if an allergic reaction occurs, the symptoms are promptly treated by the allergy staff.
Frequently Asked OIT Questions
Q. How old must one be to participate?
A. To participate in the peanut desensitization treatment program, a child must be at least four years old and mature enough to notify the parent/physician of the onset of symptoms suggestive of an allergic reaction, during the desensitization process.
Q. What is the success rate?
A. While there may be some people who are unable to complete the desensitization, studies report that the vast majority of individuals are successful, although there are often “bumps along the way.”
Q. What are the most common symptoms during build-up?
A. The most common symptoms are an upset stomach, nausea and less frequently vomiting. Itching of the mouth/throat may occur. Rarely severe allergic reactions may occur. Some patients are found to have an increased number of cells, known as eosinophils, in their esophagus (Eosinophilic Esophagitis). It is unknown as to whether this is an incidental finding or caused by the peanut desensitization.
Contact
Jonathan B. Bell, MD
Danbury Office: 107 Newtown Road – Danbury, CT 06810
203-748-7433
http://www.ascdocs.com/allergy-and-asthma/
http://www.ascdocs.com/allergy-and-asthma/peanut-allergy-treatment/
OIT Details
State: Connecticut
Treats single/multi allergens at once: Single
Offers SLIT for food allergens: No
Additional Features:
Articles in Our Research & Learn Center
Map to Office(s)
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Publications & Presentations
Miller, J.D., Bell, J.B., Lee, R.J., Tarvin, F. “Blood return on aspiration before immunotherapy injection.” J Allergy Clin Immunol
