Expert predicts peanut allergy treatment in next five years

by Angie Felton (Subscribe to Angie Felton's posts) May 3rd 2008 2:06PM

Categories: Health & Safety, Eating & Nutrition, Medical Conditions, In The News

For people with peanut allergies, the ubiquitous staple of childhood lunchboxes, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich could be deadly.

However, according to a U.S. food allergy expert there is good news on the research front for those suffering from peanut allergies. A form of immunotherapy that could rid of a person of peanut allergies could be on the horizon.

"I think there's some type of immunotherapy that will be available in five years. And the reason I say that is that there are multiple types of studies that are ongoing now," said Dr. Wesley Burks, a food allergy expert at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C. in a telephone interview.

If it seems as if there are more kids with peanut allergies now than back when you were a child, perception is reality. According to Burks, peanut allergy affects about 1 percent of children under age 5, and in the past 15 years more children have been diagnosed with the condition.

Symptoms of peanut allergy can include skin reactions such as hives, itching around the mouth and throat, diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, wheezing and, in the most severe cases, anaphylaxis - a medical emergency.

Some research has suggested a link between pregnant women eating peanuts during the pregnancy and having babies with a higher risk of developing a peanut allergy. Until there is a treatment available, choosy expectant moms might want to not choose Jiff and use peanuts sparingly in their diet.

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