Peanut Allergies | A Common And Serious Food Allergy

Peanut allergies are a very severe food allergy affecting upwards of 1.5 million people in the United States alone. Statistics show that allergies to peanuts are responsible for approximately 80 percent of all serious (fatal and almost fatal) reactions each year. It's very important for anyone positively diagnosed to watch what they eat (carefully check the food labels), as just one small ingestion can result in some serious and sometimes fatal symptoms. There are many common foods that we are exposed to each day that contain peanuts. These include peanut butter, mixed nuts, various baked goods, ice cream treats, granola, and energy bars. Avoiding any contact with these and other similar foods is essential if you have peanut allergies.

When peanuts are introduced to an allergic person's body, it triggers a sometimes severe immune system reaction. This reaction can begin within mere minutes of the ingestion causing any of a long list of symptoms. The symptoms are similar to those of other typical food allergies and can include itching, swelling, nausea, vomiting, lightheadedness, or worse. A worse reaction would be what's called anaphylaxis, or a life threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention and treatment with epinephrine to slow your body's allergic reaction.

A recent study has also shown that peanut allergies are on the rise in children at an earlier age, but the researchers are not sure of the exact cause. According to the American Academy Of Pediatrics in a study of 140 children who have a peanut allergy, the median age of their very first allergic reaction was only 14 months between 2000 and 2005 compared to between 22 and 24 months between the years of 1988 and 1999. This clinical research shows that children who are having reactions are younger than ever before. Reactions are especially troubling when they occur in babies as their immune systems are still developing. Since reactions can begin and escalate very rapidly, it's important for parents to be aware of how their child reacts to the usual suspect foods. If you see any evidence of the symptoms showing up you should have your pediatrician perform an allergy test, and notify their school accordingly as most schools can put together a special non-peanut diet for your child. This test will usually be a simple skin test, where the skin is exposed to a very small amount of liquid extract of peanuts to see if there is a reaction. Your child could also have a blood test performed where the blood will be mixed with a small amount of the peanut allergen and checked for IgE antibodies.

Additional Facts Regarding Peanut Allergies In Children

  • Statistics have shown that approximately 25% of all children who are allergic to peanuts will outgrow it by the time they reach adulthood, though most with severe allergies do not.
  • The majority of children who have severe food allergies either have asthma or family members with asthma, eczema, or hay fever.
  • An allergic reaction can be triggered by an amount as small as 1/1000th of a peanut.

While we may not know the exact cause of one person's peanut allergies we do know that they can cause severe allergic reactions. When your body triggers an immune response to the proteins found in these nuts, you may ultimately experience severe swelling and difficulty breathing. It is very important to be tested by your doctor or allergist if you have even the slightest of reactions to eating a food. It may turn out to only be an intolerance to the food, but it may be allergies.