The number of children affected by peanut allergies has significantly increased in recent years. According to a study funded by Food Allergy Research & Education, the rate of peanut allergies among school-age children more than tripled from 1997 to 2008. Although the results of the study came from a telephone survey, the sample size was more than 13,000 students, enough to affirm what those in the medical field have long suspected.
Patients with peanut allergies can experience a variety of symptoms: rashes and hives, swelling and tingling around the throat, digestive issues and shortness of breath or wheezing. According to the Mayo Clinic, even if the symptoms are minor, it is advisable to see a doctor because of the risk of a more serious reaction in the future.
Doctors have done myriad studies to explain, and ultimately limit, the impact of peanut allergies. The New England Journal of Medicine released a study earlier this year reporting that at-risk children who were routinely fed peanuts from birth through age 4 reduced their risk of developing a peanut allergy by an average of 81 percent. During the study, the feeding of peanut products to children was done under strict supervision by medical professionals.
The study, which was overseen by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, followed 11,000 mothers and their children from birth until the age of 5 and challenges previous recommendations that it is advisable to withhold peanut products from children until the age of 3. While more research is needed to confirm these findings, this study could make a dramatic difference in preventing peanut allergies.
The study states that “peanut avoidance was associated with a greater frequency of clinical peanut allergy than was peanut consumption, which raises questions about the usefulness of deliberate avoidance of peanuts as a strategy to prevent allergy.” From 2000 until 2008, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended children not eat peanuts until the age of 3. The New England Journal of Medicine study could be a game changer in how medical professionals approach peanut allergies.
Health experts remain divided on which study or protocol is appropriate. There is still much to learn, and the severity of peanut allergy reactions can be life-threatening. As a result, Good Night Pediatrics encourages parents to learn more about potential food and peanut allergies, and to speak to a physician before adopting a strategy of peanut avoidance or consumption.
For a long time, conflicting reports and studies have created confusion among the general public, which has extended into schools. The rise in peanut allergies has compelled many school districts to ban peanuts and peanut products, sparking heated debates nationwide. Last year, an Arlington Heights, Ill., mother pleaded with her local school board to ban peanut products after her 8-year-old daughter had a serious anaphylactic reaction to peanuts in the cafeteria. The girl had a severe reaction from something a classmate had eaten. Her symptoms included puffiness in the face and body. Before the ambulance arrived, the school nurse gave the child a shot of epinephrine with an EpiPen, which is used for the emergency treatment of life-threatening allergic reactions.
There is hope on the horizon that peanut allergies will be limited through modern medicine. It was recently announced that a French biopharmaceutical company has received fast-track approval from the Food and Drug Administration to test a drug — Viaskin Peanut — that boosts individuals’ tolerance to peanut products. Viaskin Peanut would be administered in patch form, and the goal is for it to be available in America in the first half of 2018.
It is important for parents to take their children to a medical professional immediately if they are exhibiting symptoms of an allergic reaction. Good Night Pediatrics offers after-hours care when most primary care physicians and allergy specialists are closed. The clinic’s pediatricians are well-versed in how to treat allergic reactions, among a variety of other health issues. Good Night Pediatrics is open from
5 p.m. to 5 a.m. 365 days a year and accepts walk-in patients. For more information, visit goodnightpeds.com.