Children's Hospital Colorado has launched a new Sublingual Immunotherapy (SLIT) program, making it one of the few pediatric medical centers in the region to offer this treatment for food allergies. Working with third-party manufacturer Top9Proteins, the hospital now provides standardized SLIT suspensions for 10 common food allergens, including milk, egg, peanut, tree nuts, and sesame.

Unlike oral immunotherapy (OIT), SLIT involves placing small allergen doses under the tongue and comes with less restrictive dosing rules — making it a practical option for families with busy schedules, kids with anxiety around food allergens, or patients who live far from the clinic. Allison Hicks, MD, who leads the program, also notes that SLIT can serve as an "on-ramp" to OIT, or vice versa, giving families flexibility as their needs evolve.

Key Takeaways:

• SLIT may be preferred over OIT for patients with very low allergen tolerance, school-age kids with packed schedules, or those with food-related anxiety
• The program covers 10 allergens: milk, egg, peanut, cashew, pistachio, walnut, pecan, almond, hazelnut, and sesame
• SLIT and OIT can be used sequentially — patients can transition between the two based on clinical needs

Why it matters: Food allergies affect millions of children, and treatment options have historically been limited. By expanding access to SLIT, Children's Colorado is giving families more personalized, flexible paths to protection — potentially opening doors to everyday activities like dining out, traveling, and participating in school events.