Peanut Allergy Treatment Albany NY

Peanut allergy is a type of food allergy, distinct and different from nut allergies. The difference is a peanut is a legume and a tree nut is a dry fruit. Peanut allergy is a hypersensitivity to the protein in peanuts causing an overreaction of the immune system which may lead to severe symptoms for people. For some people even minimal contact with peanuts may trigger a serious and potentially fatal allergic reaction. Peanut allergy is the most prevalent food allergy in the U.S. and is the most common cause of food related deaths. Symptoms include: vomiting; diarrhea; sneezing; hives; swelling lips, face, throat and skin; acute abdominal pain; atopic eczema; asthma and anaphylaxis shock and usually occurs within minutes after exposure. There is no treatment to prevent or cure allergic reactions to peanuts. The only way to avoid an allergic reaction is strict avoidance of peanuts and of any foods that may be contaminated with peanuts. Epinephrine is an emergency medication used when a severe reaction results in anaphylaxis and once given the affected individual should go immediately to the hospital.

A recent study evaluated the effect oral immunotherapy had on children with severe peanut allergy. The study included four boys with severe peanut allergy who were given small doses of peanut flour over the course of six months to determine whether it was possible to build up an immune tolerance to peanuts. They began by giving the children doses of peanut protein ranging from one to 100mg on separate days. If there was no reaction to those amounts then they were given up to 12 whole peanuts and observed for a reaction. When the study was completed all of the children were able to take between 2.4 and 2.8g of peanut protein (about 10 to 12 peanuts), which represented an increase of between 48 and 478 times in their tolerance of peanuts compared to the start of the study. They could then take 800mg of peanut protein daily as a maintenance dose, either in the form of peanut flour (1,600mg), smooth peanut butter (about 2.5ml) or five whole roasted peanuts. The results indicated that oral peanut immunotherapy was well tolerated and resulted in a substantial increase in the amount of peanut protein that could be tolerated by each of the children. The researchers believe that the children are now protected against a dose of at least 10 peanuts, which is much more than the children would likely ingest by accident. Although this technique seems likely to help many people suffering with peanut allergy, it is important to note that people should not attempt to replicate this treatment at home, as these children were under careful observation with medical staff available if a severe reaction occurred.¹

¹ Clark AT, Islam S, King Y, et al. Successful oral tolerance induction in severe peanut allergy. Allergy. Feb2009.