Child Allergic to Peanut

Peanut allergy or tree nut allergy is mostly caused due to the exposure of proteins which are present in the peanuts and so far avoiding peanut is considered the best treatment. This might soon change though.

These days’ researchers from the Duke University Medical Center and Arkansas Children's Hospital are trying to administer oral dosage of peanuts to children which may help them in building peanut tolerance. These children have shown enhanced allergic tolerance which is assumed to be the immunological changes reflecting a lack of allergic response.

The study was conducted five years back on peanut allergic children Very small doses were given to them and they were kept under surveillance as well. After a year, approximately thirty percent children were able to eat peanuts without any treatment. The scientists tracked the immunoglobulin antibody responsible for allergic reaction which declined to nearly nothing at the end of the trial. This development has brought a lot of comfort to families where they no longer have to be worried about peanut allergy and the consequences for their child.

Before starting the treatment of peanut allergy, the allergist has to ensure that the patient has undergone several tests and then only he can prescribe his treatment. And even though results are very encouraging, scientists have warned the parents not to try it at home since it’s in experimental stage.

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