Peanut OIT is Right For Me!

1 in 50 kids has a peanut allergy, which can be a disruptive and scary thing for young people to navigate, especially when their parent can’t be watchful at every moment. While most people think the only thing you can do is avoid peanuts at all costs, there IS a therapy available that can help reduce allergic reactions, making the allergy much less scary – Peanut Oral Immunotherapy (Peanut OIT).

Reingold worked with the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (ACAAI) to help promote the work of allergy specialists, who strive to improve the quality of life for millions of allergy and asthma sufferers.

ACAAI needed help making information about Peanut OIT available to the kids and parents considering, or just beginning to learn about, this treatment. Since peanut allergies can be dangerous and stressful, a therapy that includes intentional peanut exposure can sound stressful, too. Reingold was charged with making the consideration of Peanut OIT easier for both parents and kids, demystifying the process and helping them see what success looks like.

To reach parents and patients, Reingold proposed an approach that included an informative website landing page, a handout Allergists could give to the family, and videos for kids that would speak to the kids directly. By making two videos, one aimed at younger children (4-8) and one aimed at pre-teens and teens (9-17), the visuals and dialogue could speak to the kids and at their level. The videos catered to each audience by having different characters with unique voices, using a different vocabulary level, employing different sound effects and music, and for younger kids, adding a fun “sneaky peanut” character.

Providing straightforward information on the landing page also gave parents more information, and a chance to watch the videos with their kids. To help find the information, allergists are provided a handout they can print and hand directly to their patients. ACAAI also has professional printed handouts they can distribute to members. The handout contains basic information on the therapy, and a QR code to direct patients to the online resources.

Allergists now have resources they can direct patients to, which are family friendly, informative, and can make the process of choosing Peanut OIT less intimidating.