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article A new study in the medical journal Pediatrics found that peanut allergies have dropped significantly in the last 10 years. The change comes after a new recommendation was issued in 2015 about the best way to introduce peanuts to a child’s diet. Peanut allergies decline The backstory: For decades, doctors had recommended delaying feeding children peanuts and other foods likely to trigger allergies until age 3. But in 2015, Gideon Lack at King’s College London, published the groundbreaking Learning Early About Peanut Allergy, or LEAP, trial. The trial showed that introducing peanut products to infants starting as early as 4 months reduced the future risk of developing food allergies by more than 80%, and immediately sparked new guidelines urging early introduction of peanuts. Presently: A team of allergists and researchers analyzed electronic health records from dozens of pediatric practices to track diagnoses of food allergies in young children before, during and after the guidelines were issued. Their results were published Monday in the medical journal Pediatrics. By the numbers: The researchers found that peanut allergies in children ages 0 to 3 declined by more than 27% after guidance for high-risk kids was first issued in 2015 and by more than 40% after the recommendations were expanded in 2017. Big picture view: That means about 60,000 children have avoided developing peanut allergies after the guidance was first issued in 2015, study authors said. Dig deeper: The new study emphasizes the current guidance, updated in 2021, which calls for introducing peanuts and other major food allergens between four and six months, without prior screening or testing, Dr. David Hill, an allergist and researcher at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and author of the study published Monday said. The effort hasn't yet reduced an overall increase in food allergies in the U.S. in recent years. About 8% of children are affected, including more than 2% with a peanut allergy. What you can do: Parents should consult their pediatricians about any questions. RELATED: Study finds social media could alter teens' sleep patterns Signs of peanut allergy in baby Big picture view: Peanut allergy is caused when the body’s immune system mistakenly identifies proteins in peanuts as harmful and releases chemicals that trigger allergic symptoms, including hives, respiratory symptoms and, sometimes, life-threatening anaphylaxis. What to expect: A child with a peanut allergy will show symptoms within minutes to hours of consuming food containing peanuts, according to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Symptoms may include: Hives; red, blotchy skin that can itch Difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing Itching, tearing or reddened eyes Nausea, repeated vomiting Sneezing, congestion, or nasal discharge Change in behavior or mood, dizziness Drop in blood pressure What you can do: If you see your child experience any of these symptoms after ingesting a peanut, call your pediatrician to arrange an allergen test, the hospital says. If a child has any two systems involved from the above list, this means they may be experiencing anaphylaxis — in which case, call 911 immediately. The Source: Information in this article was taken from a new study in the medical journal Pediatrics, and from statements given by one of the study authors to The Associated Press. Background information was taken from The Associated Press and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. This story was reported from Detroit.
