Ruminations

Banishing Peanut Allergies

"It’s really quite ground-breaking."

"There haven’t ever been guidelines in the past completely dedicated to peanut allergy as the problem and these are very firm in recommending when parents should introduce peanut. Unlike prior guidelines, which were a bit more wishy-washy."

"A lot of families are aware they should introduce early, but very few are aware of how frequently they have to keep giving it. If you don’t keep giving it regularly, there’s no benefit."

"There’s going to be hesitation because of the flip-flop. But these new recommendations are based on much more reliable evidence and more carefully designed studies."

Dr. Edmond Chan, director, Allergy Clinic, B.C. Children's Hospital

Most babies should start eating peanut-containing foods well before their first birthday, say guidelines released Thursday that aim to protect high-risk tots and other youngsters, too, from developing the dangerous food allergy. (Dreamstime)

"Preventing the development of peanut allergy will improve and save lives and lower health care costs."
"We expect that widespread implementation of these guidelines by health care providers will prevent the development of peanut allergy in many susceptible children and ultimately reduce the prevalence of peanut allergy."
Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, director, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH

Peanut allergies can be reduced in high-risk children
Early introduction of peanuts may cut allergy risk in babies

New guidelines to inform and instruct parents of infants in the matter of peanut and peanut-butter consumption were recently published by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), respecting the issue of babies at high risk of developing an allergy to peanuts, which includes those with severe eczema and/or an allergy to eggs benefiting from eating peanut-based products between the ages of 4 and 6 months. The issue being that early introduction would serve to accustom the body to the ingestion of peanuts, avoiding future problems with peanut allergy onset.

Babies that have no risk because of mild or moderate eczema, which represents at least 90 percent of infants, should be introduced to peanut products in their own homes, at around six months of age, while parents of infants with potentially severe risk are advised to consult with their baby's pediatrician, where an allergy test may be prescribed beforehand, and the first introduction of peanut-containing food could take place in the doctor's office.

These new guidelines were developed after a randomized clinical trial that took place in Britain with 640 babies in 2015, demonstrated that frequent peanut consumption started at infancy and continued to age five led to an 80 percent reduced rate of peanut allergy development among babies considered to be at high risk. To be successful, it is critical that babies begin to have exposure to peanut products at an early age, and exposure should be frequently repeated.

Potentially deadly peanut allergies are a real concern both to parents and to the health community. People who suffer from potentially deadly allergies are numerous within society. Those allergies affect roughly one in fifty Canadian children. Until just recently, health experts advised parents to ensure their offspring were shielded from peanuts from an early age. Now, a complete reversal has taken place with the realization that early exposure to the allergen has the effect of neutralizing it.

How?

Try watered-down peanut butter: Mix two teaspoons of smooth peanut butter with two to three teaspoons of hot water, and let cool.

Mix two teaspoons of smooth peanut butter with two to three tablespoons of a favourite puréed fruit or vegetable.

Mix two teaspoons of peanut flour with about two tablespoons of a favourite puréed fruit or vegetable.

Mild symptoms to watch for include a rash or hives around the mouth or face. Parents are advised to advance with common sense and caution. They should offer their child a small portion, wait ten minutes to ensure no reaction ensues, and then follow up with the remainder of the peanut food. All the while keeping watch for the onset of possible reactions to the application of peanuts in the child's diet.