Why are peanut allergies becoming more common?

The reasons behind this dramatic increase are unclear. Lifestyle, diet choices and genetics all seem to play a role. For example, one theory, called the hygiene hypothesis, highlights how the way people who live in developed countries may have an impact on childhood allergies, including peanut allergies.

What makes a child high risk for peanut allergy?

High-risk children are those who have severe eczema, an egg allergy or both. In these cases, your child should be screened by a healthcare provider. That provider may complete a skin or blood test first to measure your child’s reaction to tiny amounts of peanut products.

Why are food allergies becoming more prevalent?

Factors may include pollution, dietary changes and less exposure to microbes, which change how our immune systems respond. Migrants appear to show a higher prevalence of asthma and food allergy in their adopted country compared to their country of origin, further illustrating the importance of environmental factors.

Why are nuts a common allergy?

If the person eats something that contains the nut, the body thinks these proteins are harmful invaders and responds by working very hard to fight off the invader. This causes an allergic reaction. Even a small amount of peanut or tree nut protein can set off a reaction.

Why are there so many allergies now?

There is no single explanation for why the world is becoming more allergic to food, but science has some theories. One is that improved hygiene is to blame, as children are not getting as many infections. Parasitic infections, in particular, are normally fought by the same mechanisms involved in tackling allergies.

Why are so many school-age kids allergic to peanuts?

The number of school-age kids with peanut allergies has doubled in the past decade. Yet scientists can’t quite put their finger on what makes the legume such a threat or why the allergy has become so prevalent. Theories abound, though, and most involve an overactive immune system.

Can a child be allergic to peanut butter?

Children have life-threatening allergies to many things – peanut is currently the most well-known of the food allergies. A child could be allergic to something else in peanut butter, too, but the peanuts are the most likely candidate.

Are Peanut proteins bad for kids?

Children who spend less time outdoors tend to be deficient in D, Wood says, so their body might mislabel peanut proteins as dangerous. Parents looking to protect their kids might consider sending them outside — and not washing their hands when they come home.

Is it a peanut allergy or a food intolerance?

Both can be allergens, although peanut allergies are the more severe and common. Peanut allergies aren’t the only food intolerances that are increasing; the rate of Celiac disease is also steadily climbing in Western countries that typically follow a certain type of diet.