Peanut Allergies Explained: An Overview of This Common Food Sensitivity
In a significant development for individuals with peanut allergies, current guidelines recommend introducing peanut-containing foods to infants as early as 4 to 6 months of age. This practice, aimed at reducing the risk of developing peanut allergy, has been shown to be effective in up to 86% of cases.
For higher-risk infants, such as those with severe eczema or egg allergy, the introduction can begin around 4 months. For the general infant population, the recommendation is to introduce peanuts around 6 months. Delaying the introduction beyond this window may increase the chance of developing an allergy.
Peanut allergies are a type of food allergy characterized by an abnormal immune response to proteins found in peanuts, specifically Ara h 1, Ara h 2, Ara h 3, and Ara h 6. Mild to moderate symptoms of a peanut allergy reaction can include itchiness in the mouth, throat, and around the eyes, swelling of lips, vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, runny nose, sneezing, and a red raised itchy rash.
Severe symptoms, known as anaphylaxis, can be life-threatening and require immediate treatment with epinephrine (adrenaline). Symptoms of anaphylaxis can include swelling of the tongue and/or throat, difficulty in swallowing or speaking, change in voice, whistling noise or persistent cough, difficult or noisy breathing, dizziness, collapse, loss of consciousness, pale complexion, floppiness in babies, and sudden sleepiness.
Diagnosis and testing for peanut allergies involve allergen-specific IgE blood tests and skin prick tests. An oral food challenge (OFC), the gold standard for diagnosing food allergies, involves gradually introducing small, controlled amounts of peanut protein to the individual under medical supervision.
Allergen immunotherapy exposes patients to small, controlled amounts of the allergen over time, helping build tolerance and reduce allergic reactions. This approach is used in treatments like oral immunotherapy (OIT), where patients ingest small but increasing doses of peanut protein daily, with the goal of building tolerance to peanuts.
In 2020, the FDA approved Palforzia as the first-ever peanut allergy treatment. Palforzia is a standardized peanut powder that can help increase tolerance to peanuts and reduce the severity of reactions upon accidental exposure.
It is crucial for individuals with peanut allergies to be aware of cross-contamination sources and hidden allergens. Peanuts are legumes that grow underground and are different from tree nuts.
In conclusion, the early introduction of peanuts during infancy has been proven to significantly reduce the risk of developing a peanut allergy. Timely peanut introduction is a key strategy in allergy prevention during infancy, as emphasized by recent evidence and guidelines.
A comprehensive health-and-wellness plan for individuals with peanut allergies could include therapy sessions to discuss management strategies, regular check-ups with a medical professional for monitoring medical-conditions, and a nutritionist for planning diets avoiding peanuts and addressing any nutritional deficiencies. It is essential to maintain a healthy sleep schedule as proper rest can boost the immune system, enhancing the body's ability to cope with allergic reactions. Furthermore, adhering to science-backed guidelines on peanut introduction in infancy, while being vigilant against cross-contamination sources and hidden allergens, provides an effective approach to managing and preventing peanut allergies.
