We usually think of runny noses, itchy eyes and congested heads.
But the symptoms of those who suffer from peanut and other food
allergies aren’t so subtle.
"You generally tend to break out in hives, rashes, wheezing,
difficulty breathing, vomiting, diarrhea," says Chitra Dinakar, MD,
allergist at Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics. “It can be life
threatening and about 80 percent of the reactions are quite severe.”
According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and
Immunology, peanut allergies have risen two fold in the last five
years. Dr. Dinakar estimates three million American’s suffer from
peanut allergies.
“There are many theories on why peanut allergies are on the rise.
We do know peanuts are used in a lot of different foods, and there are
hidden sources of peanuts. They're mixed in and it's hard to know how
it's contributing,” says Dr. Dinakar. “The growing problem of peanut
allergies is worse in industrialized countries, leading some to
theorize it has to do with society's impact on immune systems or the
different way peanuts are processed. For example, peanuts are roasted
in the US and boiled or fried in Asian countries. It is thought that
roasting the peanuts may make them more allergenic”
Dr. Dinakar recommends the following:
- Strict avoidance of the foods is the only solution. The good news
is about 20 percent of children with skin reactions alone will outgrow
their peanut allergy.
- Always read food labels to search for the products that your child
is allergic to. Studies have shown that 35-50 percent of patients who
are allergic to peanuts will have an accidental ingestion in a 3-4 year
period.
- Avoid high-risk situations such as buffets, receptions, cafeterias,
etc.
- Have a treatment action plan with Benadryl, and injectable
epinephrine available at all times.
- Maintain a diet diary to pinpoint foods that may cause
problems.
Dr. Dinakar says children with a family history of allergies are
more prone to peanut allergies and there is no perfect predictor, but
if your child has a reaction, she should be tested and educated on
avoidance of peanut products and on use of injectable epinephrine.
