Who Is At Risk And Why
Children — especially toddlers and infants — are more likely to develop food allergies.
If you or other family members have other types of allergies, peanuts could be a problem.
Also, if you have eczema, you may also be more likely to be allergic.
If you have peanut allergy, that doesnt have to mean you are more likely to have a problem with other nuts or legumes. Peanuts grow underground and are different from almonds, cashews, walnuts and other tree nuts.
But recent studies found that 25% to 40% of people who have peanut allergy are allergic to tree nuts, too.
Symptoms Of A Peanut Allergy Reaction
Peanut allergy reactions are most often the result of accidental ingestion. Some patients may react from skin contact or, rarely, by inhaling dust or aerosols that contain peanuts. Even if a certain food or dish does not contain peanuts, cross-contamination can still result in an allergic reaction.
An allergic reaction to peanuts can manifest in a wide range of skin, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and cardiovascular symptoms. These include:
- Itching or tingling in the throat or mouth
- Swelling of the tongue and/or the lips or around the eyes
- Nasal congestion
- Difficulty breathing and/or wheezing
- A sense of impending doom
Peanut allergy is the most common allergy associated with anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction that causes the body to go into shock. Children and adults who have a severe peanut allergy are at the highest risk of experiencing anaphylaxis. Signs of anaphylaxis can include:
- Pale or bluish tint on the skin
- Throat constriction
- Shortness of breath
- Difficulty breathing
- Confusion and/or dizziness
- Weak, rapid pulse
Fatalities are rare, however, allergy-related anaphylaxis cases do represent 63 to 99 deaths per year in the U.S. Should anaphylaxis occur, medical treatment must be sought immediately. Those with a peanut allergy should create an emergency anaphylaxis plan to minimize response time, including keeping two epinephrine auto-injectors accessible at all times.
Living With Peanut Or Tree Nut Allergy
If allergy skin testing shows that you have a peanut or tree nut allergy, an will provide guidelines on what to do.
The best way to prevent a reaction is to avoid peanuts and tree nuts. Avoiding nuts means more than just not eating them. It also means not eating any foods that might contain tree nuts or peanuts as ingredients.
The best way to be sure a food is nut free is to read the label. Manufacturers of foods sold in the United States must state on their labels whether foods contain peanuts or tree nuts. Check the ingredients list first.
After checking the ingredients list, look on the label for phrases like these:
- “may contain tree nuts”
- “produced on shared equipment with tree nuts or peanuts”
People who are allergic to nuts should avoid foods with these statements on the label. Although these foods might not use nut ingredients, the warnings are there to let people know the food may contain small traces of nuts. That can happen through something called “cross-contamination.” This is when nuts get into a food product because it is made or served in a place that uses nuts in other foods. Manufacturers are not required to list peanuts or tree nuts on the label when there might be accidental cross-contamination, but many do.
Some of the highest-risk foods for people with peanut or tree nut allergy include:
You May Like: Does Allergy Medicine Lower Your Immune System
How Common Is Nut Allergy And Who Gets It
In the UK about 2 in 100 children and about 1 in 200 adults have an allergy to nuts. The number of people with peanut allergy is growing.
Nut allergy is the most common type of severe food allergy. It often starts when children are very young. Most first allergic reactions take place when a child is between 14 months and two years old. Unlike other food allergies such as milk allergy, nut allergy is something that you are unlikely to grow out of. Only about 1 in 5 people with a nut allergy will grow out of it, and these tend to be the people who have mild reactions.
If you have what is called atopy, or if atopy runs in your family, then you are more at risk of developing an allergy to nuts. Atopy is the name for a group of allergic conditions that include hay fever, asthma and eczema. In particular, children who have eczema are more likely to develop a nut allergy. If you have an allergy to peanuts then you may also react to tree nuts.
Peanut Allergy Testing And Diagnosis
Peanut allergy testing in infants and young children can often bring false positives. Thorough testing can ensure that diagnoses are as accurate as possible, tracking progression over time to verify whether an allergy has been outgrown. And because peanut allergies can have severe or life-threatening reactions, failing to obtain a clinical diagnosis can present significant health and safety risks.
The gold standard of testing encompasses four ways to clinically determine whether someone has a true peanut allergy.
Also Check: How To Treat A Sulfa Allergy Rash
Where Are Food Allergies Most Likely To Occur
The frequency of food allergy has increased over the past 30 years, particularly in industrialised societies. Exactly how great the increase is depends on the food and where the patient lives.
For example, there was a five-fold increase in peanut allergies in the UK between 1995 and 2016.
A study of 1,300 three-year-olds for the EAT Study at King’s College London, suggested that 2.5% now have peanut allergies.
Australia has the highest rate of confirmed food allergy. One study found 9% of Australian one-year-olds had an egg allergy, while 3% were allergic to peanuts.
The increase in allergies is not simply the effect of society becoming more aware of them and better at diagnosing them.
It is thought that allergies and increased sensitivity to foods are probably environmental, and related to Western lifestyles.
We know there are lower rates of allergies in developing countries. They are also more likely to occur in urban rather than rural areas.
Factors may include pollution, dietary changes and less exposure to microbes, which change how our immune systems respond.
Migrants appear to show a higher prevalence of asthma and food allergy in their adopted country compared to their country of origin, further illustrating the importance of environmental factors.
How Will These Results Be Used
The UK Food Standards Agency have to decide what is deemed a safe level of peanut contamination for people with peanut allergy. They funded this study to help inform their decision making.
Although sleep deprived people had a worse reaction, they only started to react at a very slightly lower level of peanut protein. This means the FSA does not need to lower their safe level any further to account for sleep deprivation.
Prof Graham Roberts, Professor of Paediatric Allergy and Respiratory Medicine at the University of Southampton, said:
The minimal change in the amount of peanut protein causing an allergic reaction after being sleep deprived is reassuring for consumers with peanut allergy and the food industry.
It means that food manufactures do not have to minimise potential peanut protein contamination even further to prevent allergic reactions in the presence of cofactors like sleep deprivation.
Read Also: How To Help Allergies Stuffy Nose
What Is Food Intolerance
A food intolerance isn’t the same as a food allergy.
People with food intolerance may have symptoms such as diarrhoea, bloating and stomach cramps. This may be caused by difficulties digesting certain substances, such as lactose. However, no allergic reaction takes place.
Important differences between a food allergy and a food intolerance include:
- the symptoms of a food intolerance usually occur several hours after eating the food
- you need to eat a larger amount of food to trigger an intolerance than an allergy
- a food intolerance is never life threatening, unlike an allergy
Read more about food intolerance.
Page last reviewed: 15 April 2019 Next review due: 15 April 2022
How Common Are Peanut Allergies
Food allergies now affect around 10 percent of adults and 8 percent of children in the United States, according to the organization Food Allergy Research & Education . Severe allergic reactions are on the rise as well. FARE also notes that the number of children hospitalized because of food allergies increased threefold between the late 1990s and the mid-2000s. One type of food allergy thats of particular concern is peanut allergy.
While most common food allergies, such as those to cows milk and eggs, go away during childhood, peanut allergies rarely do. Because peanut allergies are a lifelong condition for 80 percent of people, theres a greater risk of a person eventually having a serious reaction.
Peanut allergies have seen a 21 percent increase among children in the United States since 2010. Almost 2.5 percent of American children may be allergic to peanuts, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology .
Recommended Reading: Which Allergy Medicine Is Best
Types Of Food Allergies
Food allergies are divided into 3 types, depending on symptoms and when they occur.
- IgE-mediated food allergy the most common type, triggered by the immune system producing an antibody called immunoglobulin E . Symptoms occur a few seconds or minutes after eating. There’s a greater risk of anaphylaxis with this type of allergy.
- non-IgE-mediated food allergy these allergic reactions aren’t caused by immunoglobulin E, but by other cells in the immune system. This type of allergy is often difficult to diagnose as symptoms take much longer to develop .
- mixed IgE and non-IgE-mediated food allergies some people may experience symptoms from both types.
Read more information about the symptoms of a food allergy.
Eating Peanuts During Pregnancy
For expectant mothers, limited evidence suggests that eating peanuts during pregnancy may help to reduce the risk of a peanut allergy in the child. The Growing Up Today Study examined 10,907 children whose mothers provided dietary information while they were pregnant and within one year of pregnancy. Peanut allergies were significantly lower in the children of 8059 nonallergic mothers who consumed more peanuts than those who did not. More evidence is needed in this area. Maternal peanut consumption during pregnancy or lactation had no effect on developing allergy in one study, nor did duration of breastfeeding. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that pregnant mothers eat a diverse diet and does not recommend avoiding any allergen as a way to prevent food allergies.
You May Like: What Dogs Are Best For Allergies
Oral Immunotherapy For Peanut Allergy
If your 4-17-year-old has a peanut allergy, a new treatment using peanut protein powder may offer additional protection. Palforzia is the only oral immunotherapy product currently approved by the FDA for treatment of peanut allergy. This type of treatment is called oral peanut immunotherapy. It slowly exposes an allergic child to peanuts so their immune system is less likely to react after an accidental ingestion of peanut product. That means if your child accidentally eats something containing peanuts, the treatment may protect them from a severe reaction. Even with this treatment, your child must continue to avoid peanuts and carry two epinephrine auto-injectors.
Its important to understand:
- The treatment is not a cure your child will still be allergic to peanuts and must avoid them.
- It will not enable your child to eat peanuts or peanut products anytime they wish.
- It works only while your child is taking it on a daily basis.
- Your child will need to continue to carry two epinephrine auto-injectors and you and your child will still need to read food labels.
- Reactions can occur due to the treatment itself.
For children with peanut allergy and their parents, the benefits may be worth the drawbacks. Discuss peanut oral immunotherapy with your allergist if your child is interested.
Should I Be Concerned About A Peanut Allergy
Without a clear understanding of how your immune system will respond, a peanut allergy is a dangerous condition. However, there are steps you can take to minimize your risk. To begin, it is vital that you get allergy testing from an experienced allergist. Dr. Chacko conducts skin prick, blood and oral challenge tests to precisely diagnose allergies. It is also important to avoid consuming peanuts until you have been advised otherwise by your allergist.
The threat of anaphylaxis is a concern for peanut allergy sufferers. In reality, small numbers will experience a severe reaction of this kind, but being prepared for the worst-case scenario is important. Your allergist may recommend carrying an epinephrine auto-injector to provide adrenaline where necessary.
Read Also: What Do Pollen Allergies Feel Like
What To Do If Your Child Has A Peanut Allergy
Avoiding the allergy-triggering food is the number 1 treatment.
Read restaurant menus carefully, ask a lot of questions about ingredients, and request a different preparation if necessary. Peanut is one of the top eight food allergens and will be listed on all packaged and prepared foods.
Create a list of foods your child cant eat, plus some snacks that they can eat, and share that with schools and family friends.
Youll also want to keep epinephrine and diphenhydramine on hand, and be sure your childs school has these too.
As your child matures, you and your allergist will also teach them about their food restrictions and how to ask questions and advocate for themselves.
How To Avoid A Reaction
If you know you have a severe peanut allergy, the best way to prevent anaphylaxis is to avoid them. Here are a few tips:
- Every time you shop, read food labels carefully. Packaged foods that contain peanuts are required to include them in the ingredients list.
- When you order food in restaurants, always let the server know that you have a peanut allergy. Ask for your food to be prepared without peanuts, peanut oil, and other peanut-based products.
- When traveling by plane, contact the airline and alert them to your allergy ahead of time. You can request that your flight be peanut-free and ask to have your seat cleaned.
As a precaution, always keep an epinephrine auto-injector nearby. This medication can reverse the symptoms of an anaphylactic reaction, but you have to use it quickly for it to be effective.
During a delayed reaction, you may need to administer a second and possibly third dose of epinephrine. See your allergist to learn how to use the auto-injector correctly.
After you inject epinephrine and your symptoms stabilize, go to an emergency room for treatment. Always get medical help to prevent another reaction.
Recommended Reading: How Can Chiropractic Help Allergies
Keep A Record Of Nut Allergy Symptoms
Diagnosing an allergy can be difficult. If you think you or a child in your care might have an allergy, keeping a record of symptoms can help you and your doctor to understand what is causing them. Keep a diary that describes the symptoms, and when and where they occur. Your diary could include information about whether the symptoms occur:
- inside your home, outside or both
- for a short time or longer
- at night, during the day or when you wake up
- after you have had a particular food or drink
- after you have taken a herbal medicine.
Mythbuster Do Allergic Reactions Worsen With Each Exposure To An Allergen
FACT: The severity of an allergic reaction is unpredictable. Reactions can range from mild to severe and can vary from person to person as well as from one reaction to the next in the same individual.
Different factors, called co-factors, can lower the threshold at which one reacts. These include asthma, general health at the time the food was eaten, alcohol, medication, and exercise.
Bottom line: Allergic reactions are serious, and the severity can be different each time. It is important to pay attention to early symptoms, even if they seem mild, especially if you have had a reaction in the past.
Learn how to recognize the signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction so that you can give life-saving epinephrine early. Check out our reaction signs and symptoms page.
Help us educate your communities and share this mythbuster with them! Find more mythbusters at foodallergycanada.ca/mythbusters.
Do you have a food allergy myth you would like us to bust? Send your mythbuster questions to .
Don’t Miss: Can Allergies Clog Up Your Ears
Will A Mild Peanut Allergy Become More Severe
It is commonly believed that each exposure to peanuts makes any subsequent allergic reaction increasingly worse. In reality, this belief is not completely accurate. As with all food allergies, how your immune system reacts is not entirely predictable. You could experience mild reactions for many years, and then suffer a severe reaction without any apparent reason. Conversely, a severe allergic reaction could be followed by a more moderate response.
Its a fact that food allergies are incredibly unpredictable, and no allergy sufferer should become comfortable with a series of mild reactions. And whats more, adults should also be cautious when it comes to food allergies. While children are more likely to suffer from allergies, an estimated 20% of adults with peanut allergies developed them after the age of 18.
How Can I Take Care Of Myself If I Have A Peanut Allergy
If you have a peanut allergy, you need to pay close attention to what you eat. Food manufacturers must clearly state on their ingredient label whether a food contains peanuts.
Prepackaged foods that dont contain peanuts can be contaminated during the manufacturing process. Watch for phrases like may contain peanuts and made in a factory on machinery that also may have been used to process peanut products.
When you go out to eat, ask questions about ingredients. For example, peanut butter may be in certain marinades or sauces. Ice cream or yogurt shops could be places of accidental exposure because peanuts are common ice cream toppings.
Read Also: How To Stop Red Eyes From Allergies
