Peanut allergy: what are the real risk factors?

Today's question of the day:

I'm reading up on the whole peanut allergy thing and I wonder if you can help me separate the wheat from the chaff. 1-How real is the increase in peanut allergies in recent years and how much is media hype/the new thing to be hysterical about? 2-I've found a LOT of conflicting info about what the real risk factors are for a peanut allergy, beyond if you or your spouse has a food allergy. (IE some studies say asthma is a contributing factor, but not to what degree) 3-Why are peanut allergies different from other allergies where early exposure can actually help limit your allergies in the future (for example, it's good for young children to be around a dog or cat because it's likely to make them LESS allergic in the future). Thanks

1. Yes, peanut allergies are on the rise. Currently about 6% of kids under age three have a food allergy. Good news is that many of those kids will outgrow their allergies.  4% of adults have a food allergy and 50% of those are to peanuts or treenuts.

2. The real risk factor for having a food allergy is a close family member with a food allergy--we're talking a brother or sister or parent. Not great Uncle Harry. Are other allergies associated with food allergies? Sometimes. The most common combo is food allergy and eczema--which can be flared up by a food allergy. The most concerning combo is food allergy and asthma. Those children are more likely to have a serious respiratory event (wheezing/anaphylaxis) with an allergic reaction to a food, because that is the way their body's allergic response may occur--that's not all comers, mind you, just the ones we are a bit more cautious of.

3. Early exposure vs delayed exposure is a terrific question, and one that is currently being studied. The standard recommendation has been to hold off on peanut exposure until age 3 in a child who is at high risk of developing a peanut allergy. Somehow, this might allow the body to be more prepared to handle the food. However, that wisdom is being challenged since the rates of peanut allergy are continuing to rise despite that mindset--some allergists are conducting studies right now that offer high allergy foods like peanuts to infants as young as four months of age and will look at the rates of food allergies at five years of age. Perhaps we've gotten it all wrong, and this exposure (like cats) early in life may be protective. We'll have to get back with you in a few years to answer this question.

For now, at least, we would not suggest offering your four month old peanut butter! But if your one year old does not have a family history of food allergies, it's okay to give it a try.

Comments

[Crystal]

Thank you so much :)

A follow up, if it's not a bother?

The nursing mom and peanuts? Any thoughts?

[allergist]

Thanks for sharing this important information about peanut allergy.It is important for me to know the risk of having peanut allergy because of my son.

-Kaylee