There are two forms of desentisization, one is by oral one is shots. The uk does not do the shot one (I think, heads a bit fuzzy this morning...) due to the nhs considering the deaths from this treatment. However its still accepted practice in other countries, like usa.
The nhs is formed in a very different way to other countries health practices, and after looking in to the deaths , the uk nhs decided it wasnt worth the risk.
other countries are carrying out the oral desen, like the one dr adam fox is doing with peanut. But, still this is a treatment that hasnt been explored long term, (still hopeful) but barriers to the long term full tolerance hasnt been totally promised for some people on this treatment. Such problems as hormone changes, e.g periods, for some, or a illnesses that stops consumption of daily preventative dose, has for a small group stopped progression and caused huge set backs. Like re developing severe allergic reactions to the food.
Patients of course, agree to the risk of a allergic reaction when first dose given during this process, everything has a risk. So its a judgement call really for everyone.
I am sure if we give this time , these wrinkles will be ironed out by the doc's, but we are still looking at many years.
This is still experimental stuff, and its a gamble, and for all my personal dreams of a magic wand without side effects, in reality I want a promise that if my son was able to take part in this treatment, and mantain tolerence if he gets drunk, fools around with his health/falls ill like normal teens/adults during his lifetime he still would never have a reaction.
I think that as parents of allergic children, we do cling to the idea of a cure, often as the future looks scary for our kids.
But really the most sensible idea is to carry on as if this allergy is for life, and hope that one day outgrowing may happen. If we live clinging on to the cure/outgrowing , we may not bring up our kids to adjust /learn / gain confidence in living as an life long allergic person. Childhood is short, and we dont have much time to do this, in a blink of an eye, the teen years are upon you, and time to teach them allergy management/ and reaction avoidance is short. So denial isnt an option, changing the way we think of these allergies is more important.
our kids will live a long ,normal life compared to many, with the normal milestones of life. we would all like to make our kids lives easier, but food allergies are not the worse condition in the world, things could be much , much worse.