How to avoid peanut allergies in children, according to new data
The number of children who are allergic to peanuts has been increasing over the past few decades. A new study suggests there’s a simple way to lower it.
Cases of peanut allergy have been on the rise in the United States, which sees one of the highest prevalence rates in the world.
According to the Food Allergy Research and Education website, peanut allergy is the most common food allergy in children under the age of 18, and the third-most prevalent among adults. More than six million Americans are allergic to peanuts, and this type of allergy typically persists over time.
It is common advice for people to simply keep away from peanuts so as to avoid an allergic reaction, which can be severe and sometimes can result in death.
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However, a new study in the United Kingdom indicates that the opposite approach could be the way to remove a person’s hypersensitivity to this common food item.
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How to avoid peanut allergies in children
According to the BBC, a research team at King’s College in London found that feeding babies smooth peanut butter until their early childhood could protect them against allergies.
The data gathered in the study shows that parents could give this to their children while they are weaning until they reach the age of five.The researchers also recommend that they feed them peanut butter in large amounts, according to the BBC report.
Children below the age of five should steer clear of whole or chopped peanuts to avoid choking.
The research shows that the protection lasted not only in the early years when they were eating peanut butter. It persisted whether they kept peanuts in their diet or removed it entirely.
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What is a peanut allergy?
A peanut allergy takes place when the immune system mistakenly identifies proteins in peanuts as harmful substances and reacts to them. This immune response can range from mild to severe and can even be life-threatening in some cases.
Symptoms of a peanut allergy can appear within minutes to a few hours after exposure and can vary in severity, ranging from milder symptoms such as hives, swelling, and itching, to more severe ones such as vomiting and anaphylaxis, a medical crisis that requires immediate treatment with epinephrine and emergency medical attention.
According to the King’s College study, feeding children peanuts at an early age helps the immune system recognize that the food is harmless, instead of a severe threat to the body.