Peanut Allergy

What is Peanut Allergy?

Peanut Allergy is a severe reaction to the ingestion of peanuts. Symptoms range from hives, eczema, and stomach discomfort to a potentially fatal constriction of the airways and swelling of the throat. These symptoms are similar reactions to that of other food allergies. However peanut allergies tend to be rather severe and account for a large majority of fatal or near fatal reactions.

In severe cases treatment must be administered at once to prevent a fatality. A peanut allergy can be a lifelong problem; approximately 20% of infants with peanut allergy outgrow the allergy.

The reaction generally happens shortly after a food containing nuts nut products, is eaten and in some particularly sensitive people, ingestion of even a small trace of peanut can stimulate a reaction. It is important for parents to be aware of the difference, which is often a matter of severity, between a peanut allergy reaction and reactions to other foods.

How common are Food Allergies?

Food allergies affect around 4-8% of children, but most are not as dangerous as a peanut allergy, which affects approximately 1% of children. A peanut allergy is more common in people who have other conditions such as eczema, asthma or hay fever, or who have immediate family with these conditions.

Peanut allergies are on the rise they cause an estimated 15,000 emergency room visits each year and nearly 100 deaths in the United States.

The majority of children and 50% of adults who are allergic to peanuts are allergic to other nuts such as walnuts, cashews or brazil nuts. A significant number of people have multiple allergies and could also be allergic to other nuts like hazelnuts, pine nuts and pistachio nuts.

Doctors admit that the ubiquity of these foods in the diet makes avoidance hard, and accidental ingestions which cause serious reactions are very common. Many of these foods are also popular with children, making it difficult to prevent consumption or ingestion.

While there is no cure for Peanut Allergy and no therapies to reduce or eliminate the severity of the allergy, there are options available to you. The only way to prevent an allergic reaction is to avoid peanuts and foods containing peanuts all together. However peanuts are very common in a wide variety of foods and despite ones best efforts, you or your child are likely to come across peanuts at some point.

While most reactions to peanuts are not life-threatening, it's important to be prepared for a severe reaction. For an anaphylactic reaction, an emergency injection of adrenaline is vital as is a trip to the emergency room. Some medications, such as antihistamines, may reduce the mild symptoms of peanut allergies. These drugs can be taken after exposure or to help relieve itching. However, antihistamines are not sufficient to treat severe or life-threatening reactions.

The book "How to Live with a Nut Allergy" is

"An indispensable guide to dealing with this potentially deadly allergy.

Nuts and nut oils are found in countless foods and topical ointments/creams.

They are also the leading cause of fatal and near-fatal food allergy reactions.

Unfortunately, nut allergies are not as rare as they were once thought to be. According to U.S. and British studies, their prevalence has doubled over the last decade alone.

Co-written by a leading expert on nut allergies,

How to Live with a Nut Allergy

* tells you what you need to know to avoid exposure to all kinds of tree nuts and peanuts;

* Reduce the risk of setting off a serious allergic reaction;

* Be prepared should a reaction occur;

* Avoid a reaction in close quarters, such as airplanes;

* Keep children safe from exposure.

To find out more or to order: How to Live with a Nut Allergy