Peanut Allergy

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=110 BGCOLOR="#666699" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="0b500840erlcjm.gif"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" ><B>Peanut Allergy</B></FONT><B>  |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Allergy Centre"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id30.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="eHealth Consultations "><U><B>Remote Consultation with the Allergy Centre through eHealth</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id30.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="eHealth Consultations "><U><B>Location of the Allergy Centre</B></U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=190 BGCOLOR="#CCCCFF" TEXT="#080000" background="0af11c00egdysm.gif"> <div> <A HREF="id110.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="For Journalists"><U><B>Return to Journalists  </B></U></A><A HREF="id110.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="For Journalists"><U><B>page</B></U></A></div> <div> <I><B>Phone</B></I></div> <div> <B>03 9874 4144</B></div> <div> <B>________________</B></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=370 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> Peanut Allergy<FONT SIZE="6" COLOR="#000000" FACE="BookmanITC Lt BT" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> DATA FOR YOUR ARTICLE</div> <bR> <div> Peanut and nut allergy is becoming common as shown in a study of 62 patients aged 11 months to 53 years by the university of Cambridge clinical school. Peanuts were the commonest cause of allergy, followed by Brazil nut, almond, and hazelnut. </div> <bR> <div> Onset of allergic symptoms occurred by the age of two years in half of the cases and by the age of seven in almost all. Peanuts accounted for all allergies in children sensitized in the first year of life and for 82% of allergies in children sensitized by the third year of life. Multiple allergies appeared progressively with age. The commonest symptom was facial swelling (angioedema), and the major feature accounting for life threatening reactions was laryngeal oedema. Most had other allergic disorders (asthma, rhinitis, eczema) due to several inhaled allergens and other foods. Sensitization, mainly to Peanuts, is occurring in very young children, and multiple Peanuts/nut allergies appear progressively. Peanut and nut allergy is becoming common and can cause life threatening reactions. The main danger is laryngeal edema. Young allergic children should avoid Peanuts and nuts to prevent the development of peanut allergy. Ewan PW</div> <div>      There can be a cross reaction between pollen and nuts: it is known that most patients with allergy to tree pollens also suffer from intolerance to nuts. A study of 25 patients in Vienna, Austria, showed that a protein with IgE binding properties similar to the major allergens from the pollen of the Hazel bush is the predominant allergen in hazelnut. Hirschwehr R et al.</div> <div> Peanut oil can sensitize young children to peanuts: a study from Paris shows that early sensitization to peanut can occur through milk formulas which contain peanut oil. Out of 102 children, 4 to 35 months old,19 had a positive skin test to Peanuts. Neither breast feeding nor milk formulas changed the frequency of sensitization. Vitamin D. Preparations in peanut oil significantly increased the risk of peanut allergy. These results suggest to leave peanut oil out of all foods and drugs given to infants and young children, as required for infantile milk formulas. de Montis G.</div> <div>      Children with cow's milk allergy often have multiple allergies. A study from Parkville, Australia, of a group of 42 infants with cow's milk allergy revealed that 57% had eczema, 69% had asthma, 67% had egg allergy, 55% peanut allergy, and 83% of infants demonstrated positive skin-prick tests to three or more allergens. The incidence of allergy to egg and peanut butter was significantly greater for children with persistent cow's milk allergy. Hill DJ.</div> <div>      Peanut sensitivity can cross-react with lupine. In a study from Madison, Wisconsin, a five-year-old girl with peanut sensitivity experienced Urticaria and angioedema after ingesting a spaghetti-like pasta fortified with sweet lupine seed flour. Results of skin-prick tests were positive in five out of seven other subjects; these patients also reported a history of adverse reactions to green peas. Results of the tests showed that some peanut-sensitive patients may be at risk for adverse reactions to lupine. Hefle SL. et al.</div> <div>      Peanut immunotherapy is effective against peanut allergy. Peanuts are one of the most common foods responsible for food-induced collapse (anaphylaxis). Patients rarely lose sensitivity to Peanuts. Although the ideal treatment is avoidance, this is often not possible because of hidden exposures. Using serial dilution end-point titration skin-prick tests as an objective measure, three subjects in Denver, Colorado, treated with peanut immunotherapy displayed a 67% to 100% decrease in symptoms induced by double-blind placebo-controlled peanut challenge. This study provided preliminary data demonstrating the efficacy of injection therapy with peanut extract and provides a line of clinical investigation for the treatment of this potentially lethal disease. Oppenheimer JJ </div> <bR> <div> <I><B>TO PRINT</B></I><I> this page, </I><I><B>FIRST</B></I><I> </I>click anywhere<I> on this paragraph you are now reading and </I><I><B>THEN </B></I><I>just press the print button on you browser.</I></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I><B>Courtesy of The Allergy Centre 03 9874 4144</B></I></div> <div> References</div> <div> de Montis G. Truong M. Toussaint B. Berman D. Toudoire C. Peanut sensitization and oily solution vitamin preparations. Archives de Pediatrie 2 (1):25-8, 1995 Jan. French </div> <div> Ewan PW. Clinical study of peanut and nut allergy in 62 consecutive patients: new features and associations. BMJ 312 (7038):1074-8, 1996 Apr 27 </div> <div> Hefle SL. Lemanske RE Jr. Bush RK. Adverse reaction to lupine-fortified pasta. Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology. 94 (2 Part 1): 167-72, 1994 Aug. </div> <div> Hill DJ. Bannister DG. Hosking CS. Kemp AS. Cow's milk allergy within the spectrum of atopic disorders. Clinical & experimental allergy. 24 (12):1137-43, 1994 Dec. </div> <div> Oppenheimer JJ. Nelson HS. Bock SA. Christensen F. Leung DY. Treatment of peanut allergy with rush immunotherapy. Journal of allergy & clinical immunology. 90 (2): 256-62, 1992 Aug </div> <div> Hirschwehr R, Valenta R, Ebner C, Ferriera F, Sperr WR, Valent P, Rohac M, Rumpold H, Scheiner O, Kraft D. Identification of common allergenic structures in Hazel pollen and hazelnuts: a possible explanation for sensitivity to hazelnuts in patients allergic to tree pollen. Journal Of Allergy & Clinical Immunology. 90 (6 Pt 1): 900 927-36, 1992 Dec.. </div> <bR> <div>  <A NAME="this_page_was_last_reviewed_on_6th_june"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >This page was last reviewed on 18th Aug 2004</FONT></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>