Food allergies are becoming an increasingly common issue that parents and children have to deal with. One of the most common — and most deadly — food allergies is an allergy to peanuts. We’ve compiled all of the information that parents need to know about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of peanut allergies as well as some steps on how to make life safer with an allergic child.
What is Peanut Allergy?
An allergic reaction to a food such as peanuts is caused by an overreaction of the body’s immune system to specific proteins in the food. Symptoms can range from mild to severe and can even become life-threatening. A suspected peanut allergy is usually confirmed through allergy testing, including skin prick testing and blood testing.
Symptoms of Peanut Allergy
Signs of an allergic reaction in children can be mild or severe and may include:
- Hives or welts
- Swelling of the face
- Itchy or watery eyes
- Tingling lips, mouth, tongue, or throat
- Stomach pain
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis is a severe and life-threatening allergic reaction that requires emergency medical attention. Symptoms of an anaphylactic reaction include:
- Difficulty breathing or talking
- Wheezing or persistent coughing
- Swelling of the tongueand/or tightness in the throat
- Loss of consciousness, dizziness, or fainting
- Pale skinor blue lips
- Becoming floppy (infants/young children)
- Weak pulse
- Drop in blood pressure
- Confusion
When in doubt, call for emergency assistance or administer your child’s medication.
Causes of Peanut Allergies
While there is no definitive cause of peanut allergy, it is suspected that a peanut allergy can be hereditary, meaning it is passed down from parents to their children.
In addition, there has been conflicting research on whether or not the early introduction of peanuts to babies has any correlation to the development of peanut allergies. However, current guidelines suggest that there is no reason to delay giving your baby foods (such as peanuts) that are known to be common allergens.
It seems that in many cases, developing an allergy is just due to “luck of the draw,” although a family history of allergies and eczema can increase your little one’s risk.