CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cleveland Clinic opened Northern Ohio’s first food allergy center to care for adult and pediatric patients with food allergies, according to a news release.

The Cleveland Clinic Food Allergy Center of Excellence (FACE) features a multidisciplinary team of allergists, pediatric psychologists and registered dieticians working to prevent, diagnose, study, research and treat food allergies and diseases caused by reactions to food, the release said.

The center is located at the Cleveland Clinic Strongsville Family Health Center, at 16761 South Park Center, and staff there already has seen a few patients, a Clinic spokesperson said. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25.

FACE providers also soon will treat patients at other Clinic locations and via virtual appointments and will participate in community outreach efforts, the release said.

About 32 million people in the U.S. have food allergies, including 8% of children. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the prevalence of food allergies in children increased 50% between 1997 and 2011. Eight foods — milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts like cashews and walnuts, fish, shellfish, soy and wheat — represent about 90% of all food-related allergic reactions.

Allergic reactions occur when the body’s immune system thinks an ingredient in food is a threat and tries to defend against it, the Clinic said.

The 2,400-square-foot Strongsville center has an observation space for patients undergoing food challenge tests that includes a video gaming area to occupy patients because tests can take several hours.

FACE providers are offering new therapies, including oral immunotherapy for selected patients with certain allergies. Oral immunotherapy involves slowly exposing a patient to the allergen, from very low amounts eventually up to a target dose. This treatment could help the patient be able to tolerate small doses of the allergen, in case they are exposed to it outside of the hospital, the Clinic said. Oral immunotherapy also can help prevent allergies in certain patients at high risk for them.

Additionally, providers also are using early introduction therapies on infants and children at high risk for developing food allergies, the release said.

“Until recently, all we could offer our patients and families with food allergies was avoidance,” said Dr. Sandra Hong, FACE director. “However, oral immunotherapy has ushered in a new era for food allergy patients. We are excited to be able to offer this therapy to carefully selected patients who can benefit from it as a treatment or prevention strategy.”

The FACE also will help patients with allergies with other related allergic diseases like allergic rhinitis, eczema and asthma and with dealing with anxiety, isolation and bullying, as a result of allergies, the release said. Provers also will care for patients with diseases that can be associated with foods, such as eczema, eosinophilic esophagitis, food protein proctocolitis and food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome.

“Food allergies affect many aspects of a patient’s life – far more than just their diet,” said Dr. Jaclyn Bjelac, FACE associate director. “That’s why the center is designed to care for the whole patient and their loved ones. We want them to feel prepared and confident about their futures.”

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