Peanut allergy

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Peanut allergy
Classification & external resources
ICD-10 T78.4
ICD-9 V15.01
DiseasesDB 29154

Peanut allergy is a type of food allergy. It is a hypersensitivity to dietary substances from peanuts causing an overreaction of the immune system which may lead to severe physical symptoms for millions of people[1]. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America estimates that the majority of paediatric and adult food allergy patients have a peanut allergy[2]. Prevalence among adults and children is similar (around 1%) but at least one study shows it to be on the rise in children.[3] 25% of children with a peanut allergy grow out of it.[4] It is usually treated with an exclusion diet and vigilant avoidance of foods that may be contaminated with whole peanuts or peanut particles and/or oils. The most severe peanut allergies can result in anaphylaxis[5] and is an emergency situation requiring immediate attention and treatment with Epinephrine.

The 2005 death of Christina Desforges, which was initially reported as a result of exposure to peanuts, spurred many parents to speak out about the dangers from such seemingly mundane matters as peanut butter and jam sandwiches at schools or peanut shells on the floors of restaurants.[6] According to a coroner's statement in March 2006 however, Ms. Desforges did not die of anaphylactic shock caused by a kiss from her boyfriend after he ate a peanut butter snack but in fact died as a result of asthma-linked respiratory failure.

Some peanut allergy symptoms include: atopic dermatitis (eczema), urticaria (hives), asthma, anaphylactic shock, and various swellings of the digestive tracts.

As with most allergies, avoidance is the key. All labels for foods, medicines, cosmetics, creams, and ointments should be read. A history of allergic reactions after consuming a peanut may suggest an allergy.

While several companies have developed promising drugs to counteract peanut allergies, trials have been mired in legal battles.[7]

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[edit] References

  1. ^ National Institutes of Health, NIAID Allergy Statistics 2005 http://www.niaid.nih.gov/factsheets/allergystat.htm
  2. ^ “Allergy Facts and Figures,” Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America http://www.aafa.org/display.cfm?id=9&sub=20&cont=517
  3. ^ Prevalence of peanut and tree nut allergy in the United States determined by means of a random digit dial telephone survey: A 5-year follow-up study http://www.allerg.qc.ca/peanutallergy.htm#pressreldec903
  4. ^ Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust and UCL Institute of Child Health, Peanut Allergy - Family Factsheet http://www.ich.ucl.ac.uk/factsheets/families/F000279/
  5. ^ National Report of the Expert Panel on Food Allergy Research, NIH-NIAID 2003 http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/about/organization/dait/PDF/june30_2003.pdf
  6. ^ "Nutty killer: Peanut policy perplexes parents", Hook weekly, 2006-01-05. Retrieved on December 13, 2006.
  7. ^ highbeam.com
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