|
Allergy Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Are peanuts nuts?
What percentage of the population is allergic to peanuts?
Exactly what is a food allergy?
Can anyone develop a food allergy?
Are there common food allergens?
How prevalent are food allergies?
How easy is it to identify the symptoms of a food allergy?
Are food allergies life long?
Are there reasons why a peanut allergy is so severe?
Are peanut allergies increasing?
How many peanuts are needed to cause a reaction?
How are food allergies diagnosed?
Can anything be done to manage peanut allergy and prevent a reaction?
How is a severe allergic reaction to peanuts treated?
Should peanuts be consumed during pregnancy and breastfeeding?
Should peanuts be given to infants and children?
Should peanut oil be avoided?
Is there a cure?
Are food allergy research activities underway?
What about when there is no label?
How is the food industry helping?
Are peanuts nuts?
Although many people consider peanuts a nut, they are really a legume of the plant Arachis hypogaea. Other legumes include foods such as beans, peas and soybeans. Peanuts originated in South America as early as 3,000 BC. Over the centuries, peanuts have played a central role in the cultures and cuisine of many countries around the world.
What percentage of the population is allergic to peanuts?
While there have been no definitive nationwide studies conducted on the prevalence of peanut allergies, one studyto determine the Prevalence of peanut allergy in primary-school children in Montreal found the prevalence of peanut allergy to be 1.5%. A random telephone surveyin the United States found that peanut and/or tree nut allergy affects approximately 1.1% of the general population, or about 3 million Americans.
Exactly what is a food allergy?
A food allergy is any reaction to an otherwise harmless food or food component that involves the body's immune system. A reaction occurs when the body's immune system responds abnormally to the protein or proteins in that particular food. The body reacts by flooding the system with histamines and other chemicals to fight off what is perceived as an invader in the body. Reactions to food or food ingredients that do not involve the immune system are called food intolerance or sensitivities.
Can anyone develop a food allergy?
Although anyone can develop a food allergy, the tendency toward allergic reactions is largely inherited. Where there is a history of atopic disorders (such as asthma or eczema) or other allergies, children may have two to four times the likelihood of developing an allergy as compared to children from families without allergic parents.
Are there common food allergens?
Common foods that are associated with food allergy are milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, wheat and soy.
How prevalent are food allergies?
The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology estimates that confirmed food allergy affects between one and two percent of adults. It is further estimated that approximately six to eight percent of children have some type of food allergy. The most common food allergies among children are milk and egg. A smaller proportion of children suffer from peanut or nut allergies. The exact number of individuals with a peanut allergy is not known.
How easy is it to identify the symptoms of a food allergy?
Most allergy sufferers experience mild reactions. Symptoms can include varying degrees of hives, swelling of the throat, difficulty breathing and vomiting. A small proportion of susceptible sufferers may experience severe and potentially fatal anaphylactic shock.
Anaphylaxis is the life-threatening reaction induced by severe allergies that can constrict the airways in the lungs, severely lower blood pressure, and swell the tongue or throat, among other symptoms. Anaphylaxis is rare, but can be fatal if not treated immediately. It can be caused by foods, insect stings and medications.
Are food allergies life long?
Children commonly outgrow food allergies. However, allergies to peanuts, nuts, fish and shellfish are usually life-long.
Are there reasons why a peanut allergy is so severe?
Peanuts are a complex plant food, with more than 30 different proteins. Research is underway to identify exactly which proteins trigger an allergic reaction, and why the reaction can vary in severity among allergy sufferers. Peanut allergy appears to be progressive—subsequent reactions tend to be more severe. Other foods which can cause severe reactions are nuts and shellfish.
Are peanut allergies increasing?
Research indicates that all allergies are increasing. Peanut allergies are not a new phenomena; however, it is difficult to determine if the increased reports of food allergies in general and peanut allergy in particular are due to actual increases in incidence or a result of increased awareness among consumers and health professionals.
How many peanuts are needed to cause a reaction?
Recent evidence indicates that even trace amounts of peanuts can be enough to cause a major reaction in those very few individuals who are severely allergic.
How are food allergies diagnosed?
Diagnosing a food allergy may not be difficult if a person always has the same reaction after eating a certain food. However, foods are generally eaten in combination. It is therefore important to consult a board-certified allergist to determine if the symptoms are caused by food and if so, which one.
Food allergies are diagnosed by taking a thorough medical and dietary history, keeping a food diary, eliminating suspect foods, conducting skin tests, and evaluating food challenges.
Can anything be done to manage peanut allergy and prevent a reaction?
The only certain way to prevent a reaction is avoidance—there is no treatment to prevent peanut allergy. However, with proper management, awareness, and education, most reactions to food allergens can be avoided.
Individuals with a food allergy should diligently read all food labels and ask questions about foods prepared away from the home (such as in school or a restaurant). In the day care or school setting, parents of a child with a food allergy should educate teachers and school staff to be prepared to recognize and treat severe allergic reactions immediately and seek first aid.
In consultation with their physicians, individuals who suffer from severe allergic reactions should always carry appropriate medication such as a self-injectable form of epinephrine (adrenaline). Sufferers should also consider wearing an identity bracelet or medallion to alert others if they have a problem.
How is a severe allergic reaction to peanuts treated?
Epinephrine, when prescribed by a physician, should be administered immediately to the individual. Emergency medical services must then be obtained for further treatment.
It is important to note that an injection of epinephrine does not cure the allergic reaction—it only alleviates the immediate reaction to allow the extra time necessary to seek emergency medical services. With proper medical attention and treatment, food allergies are rarely fatal.
Should peanuts be consumed during pregnancy and breastfeeding?
Studies are inconclusive about the effects of diet during pregnancy on the development of food allergies.
Research has shown the presence of minute quantities of proteins from peanuts, egg and other potential allergens in breast milk within a few hours of their being consumed. Several studies have suggested that in those families where there is a history of allergies, avoiding allergenic foods (milk, eggs and peanuts) while breastfeeding may prevent food allergy among infants. If you have questions about food allergy and breastfeeding, consult your obstetrician and gynecologist or pediatrician.
Should peanuts be given to infants and children?
If an infant or child has other food allergies or has a family history of food or other allergies, doctors recommend withholding introduction of peanuts until after three years of age.
Should peanut oil be avoided?
The process of refining oil removes the protein which would trigger an allergic reaction. Peanut oil (sometimes labeled as Arachnis oil) is commonly used as a component in vegetable oil, as a carrier in processed foods or as an emulsifier/lubricant in cosmetics. The oil is highly refined, and should pose no problem for allergy sufferers. However, oils which are cold pressed to retain their flavor or oil that has been used to cook peanuts do contain protein and therefore should be avoided.
Is there a cure?
There is no cure for food allergy. Avoidance continues to be the only certain treatment although medical research is constantly searching for treatments and solutions.
Are food allergy research activities underway?
Medical researchers are working on developing treatments to prevent or decrease the symptoms of serious food allergies. Before developing such treatments, it is necessary first to identify the specific proteins that are responsible for triggering the allergic response. A number of the proteins responsible for peanut allergy have been identified. Medical treatments to desensitize or minimize peanut and other food allergy reactions are under development, but will not be widely available for several years. Until then, avoidance is the best prevention of food allergies.
What about when there is no label?
This is the most difficult area to control, since restaurant, catering and other non-packaged food is not labelled for the consumer. In these situations, consumers should always ask if there are peanuts or peanut products in the recipe when ordering. If any doubt remains, that food or location should be avoided.
How is the food industry helping?
Consumers must be able to make informed choices about foods. The industry is committed to providing responsible, accurate information on product formulation through labeling of food products. The food industry is also working closely with consumer and professional organizations to monitor and support research as well as patient education which will ultimately help food allergy sufferers.
More Allergy Information
Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network:
www.foodallergy.org
Quebec Food Allergy Association (L'association québécoise des allergies alimentaires):
http://www.aqaa.qc.ca
Anaphylaxis Canada:
www.anaphylaxis.ca
Food Safety Network:
http://www.foodsafetynetwork.ca/en/
Allergy Safe Communities:
http://www.allergysafecommunities.ca/pages/default.asp
|
