RX Review: Addressing unmet needs in food allergy diagnosis and care
In part 2 of this 5-part series, panelists discuss confusion in food allergy diagnosis and the need for better medical education.
In this Contemporary Pediatrics and HCPLive RX Review discussion, moderator Brian Schroer, MD, speaks with Colleen Kraft, MD, and Russell Traister, MD, about unmet needs in research and clinical care.
Kraft, a primary care pediatrician at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, highlights the ongoing confusion between food allergies and intolerances. She stresses the importance of differentiating IgE-mediated allergies, such as peanut allergies that require epinephrine, from conditions like food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES), which do not. She underscores the need for clearer primary care education on allergy subtypes and individualized management plans.
Traister, a pediatric specialist at Allegheny Health Network, adds that many patients struggle to distinguish between anaphylaxis and non-IgE-mediated conditions like eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). He notes that a lack of reliable testing for non-IgE conditions complicates diagnosis,1 particularly in adult populations. He emphasizes the importance of better medical education on allergy differentiation.
Schroer points out that many pediatricians and family doctors lack formal allergy training during residency, leading to widespread misinformation. He stresses the need for standardized education and improved collaboration between allergists and other specialists to ensure consistent and accurate food allergy care.
Our Panelists:
Brian Schroer, MD, is an allergist-immunologist at the Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital. Board-certified in internal medicine, pediatrics, and allergy and immunology, Schroer serves as the moderator for this panel discussion.
Colleen Kraft, MD, is a clinical professor of Pediatrics at the Keck School of Medicine of USC and an attending physician at the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. In addition to these roles, Kraft is also the former president of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Russell Traister, MD, is a pediatric allergy and immunology specialist at Allegheny Health Network’s Pediatric Institute. Board certified in allergy, immunology, and internal medicine, Traister serves as the third panelist for our discussion.
Reference:
1. Al-Iede M, Sarhan L, Alshrouf MA, Said Y. Perspectives on Non-IgE-Mediated Gastrointestinal Food Allergy in Pediatrics: A Review of Current Evidence and Guidelines. J Asthma Allergy. 2023;16:279-291. Published 2023 Mar 14. doi:10.2147/JAA.S284825
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