Peanuts; The Good, The Bad, and the Nutty

I got an e-mail update from the Baby 411 Blog that was an article about a recent study on peanut allergies and small children. It's entitled "Have a Peanut, Kid"

Willow is 14.5 months old and I gave her her first taste of peanut butter when she was around 12 months old. Luckily, she was not allergic.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), despite recommendations that very young children, especially those with a family history of allergies, avoid peanut exposure during the first three years of life, the age that children are first exposed to peanuts and subsequently have an allergic reaction has fallen over the past decade.

This seems to correspond with the findings of the study entitled Early consumption of peanuts in infancy is associated with a low prevalence of peanut allergy, which is mentioned in the Baby 411 Blog post. Although the study was done on children in Israel and the United Kingdom, that does not invalidate it for others around the globe. According to the study conclusions, We demonstrate that Jewish children in the UK have a prevalence of Peanut Allergy (PA) that is 10-fold higher than that of Jewish children in Israel. This difference is not accounted for by differences in atopy, social class, genetic background, or peanut allergenicity. Israeli infants consume peanut in high quantities in the first year of life, whereas UK infants avoid peanuts. These findings raise the question of whether early introduction of peanut during infancy, rather than avoidance, will prevent the development of PA.

So, when is a good time to expose your children to Peanuts? Or what about other food allergies? What should parents be on the lookout for?

First, what exactly IS a food allergy? According to the AAP, a food allergy happens when the body reacts against harmless proteins found in foods. The reaction usually happens shortly after a food is eaten. Food allergy reactions can vary from mild to severe. Because there are many things that can be confused with food allergies, it is important for parents to know the difference.

Here are some symptoms of a food allergy:
Skin problems

• Hives (red spots that look like mosquito bites)


• Itchy skin rashes (eczema, also called atopic dermatitis)


• Swelling


• Breathing problems


• Sneezing


• Wheezing


• Throat tightness

Stomach symptoms

• Nausea


• Vomiting


• Diarrhea


• Circulation symptoms


• Pale skin


• Light-headedness


• Loss of consciousness

Now, what is NOT a food allergy? Food can cause many illnesses that are sometimes confused with food allergies. The following are not food allergies:

• Food poisoning—Can cause diarrhea or vomiting, but is usually caused by bacteria in spoiled food or undercooked food.


• Drug effects—Certain ingredients, such as caffeine in soda or candy, can make your child shaky or restless.


• Skin irritation—Can often be caused by acids found in such foods as orange juice or tomato products.


• Diarrhea—Can occur in small children from too much sugar, such as from fruit juices.

The AAP recommendation on peanut introduction is that very young children, especially those with a family history of allergies, avoid peanut exposure during the first three years of life. However, the AAP recently changed that recommendation to greater than 6 months of age (the age which solid foods are typically started) for exposure to atopic foods, like peaunts, for children who's families do not have a history of the specific allergy. (I was under the impression that 12 months of age was the "okay" age, but what do I know? I'm not a doctor and I don't remember what my pediatrician said on the matter)

If you or any relatives in your family have a peanut allergy and you are concerned for your child, you can have an allergy test done or even introduce peanut butter at the pediatrician's office, just in case.

The good news is that food allergies are often outgrown during early childhood. It is estimated that 80% to 90% of egg, milk, wheat, and soy allergies go away by age 5 years. Some allergies are more persistent. For example, 1 in 5 young children will outgrow a peanut allergy and fewer will outgrow allergies to nuts or seafood. Your pediatrician or allergist can perform tests to track your child's food allergies and watch to see if they are going away.


More Information:
Beyond a Peanut
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America - Peanut Allergy
National Institutes of Health - Food Allergy
Mayo Clinic - Peanut Allergy
Learning Early About Peanut Allergy (LEAP) Study