Peanut Allergies?

Dear D.,

I never heard of the peanut allergies until I was about 53 years old . They are real, and very dangerous. Take them seriously, and follow the directions that you are given.

I know exactly how you feel, it is like being in another world. My advice is to go online and learn as much as you can about this.

C. N.

Peanut allergiea are real, very dangerous, and have been around a long time. It just has not been widely publicized. One thing I want everyone to know, especially those who will be having babies, is breastfeeding can reduce allergies. If everyone breastfed, many allergies, and other things associated now with formula would diminish. That being said, yes it is sad that everyone needs to alter what their child takes to lunch because of one person, but I have heard of such severe cases (I used to be a teacher) that if a person touched peanut butter they would start to have their throat close up. Kids would have peanut butter, have some on their hands, then play with a toy, which then another kid would touch and get peanut butter on them. Many schools have banned peanut products while certain kids are attending. I do not look forward to my kids not being able to take peanut butter to school, especially since that's about all one of them will eat, but I do not want to endanger anyone else's kids either.

peanut allergies are one of the most serious food allergies there is. I have treated both kids and adults with severe peanut allergies-to the point of the throat beginning to close and respiratory distress. Severities differ i have seen kids who need to injest the peanut product to have a reaction, to being in the same room, to having a problem with products made in the same factory as peanuts. i, myself have a severe shellfish allergy and ill tell you, it is very scary to not be able to breathe! hope this helps

Dear D.,

First of all, I can stay silent no longer. Please be very wary of this NAET therapy that keeps being propounded on this site. It's techniques have no basis in medical science and no objective research has ever been conducted or published on it. Thinking that chiropractic will change biology of the nature of allergy is 17th century thinking at best and life-threatening at worst.

Allergies in general are increasing, especially in the industrialized nations. No one is sure why, but one theory holds that we keep our homes and infants too clean, so that the immune system does not learn to recognize harmless from nonharmless allergens in the environment during infancy, when B-cells are under the process of habituation in the thymus. The part of the immune system that recognizes allergens (immunogloblin E or IgE)actually is part of the mechanism for recognizing and distroying large pathogens, such as parasites.

This is probably not the whole story, however, as allergies can arise during any time of life, and there is a definite genetic component to allergy. In the US, approximately 25% of the population has an allergy to a food, airborne allergen (such as dust mites, animal dander, pollen, etc) or metal.

Most allergic reactions are annoying, but not life-threatening. Typical responses to airbourne allergens are sneezing, runny nose, itching, watery eyes, and sometimes hives. We now know, BTW, that asthma is the endpoint disease associated within inhaled allergens, which, although controllable, can be debilitating and, in rare cases, fatal.

Food allergies can manifest in many ways. The most common are eczema, hives, and intestinal discomfort (gas, bloating, cramps, diarrhea). All of these symptoms are a response to the large amounts of histamines that the body makes as a response to the allergen. One potentially fatal response to histamine is what's called angioedema, which is a swelling of blood vessels. When this happens in the throat, tissues can get so swollen that the airway is blocked and the person can suffocate quickly. Another severe response is anaphyllaxis. When this occurs, the blood pressure suddenly drops and the circulatory system can collapse quickly, causing heart failure and death. Very typically, angioedema and anaphyllaxis occur together.

Now, this is why you need to be very careful around someone with an allergy to a food like peanuts. Some people are so sensitive that they will have a severe allergic reaction if they come in contact with even the tiniest amount of allergen by eating it, getting it rubbed on their skin, or inhaling it. My daughter has a very severe peanut allergy. She cannot eat any peanut products, cannot use makeup or lotions made with peanut oils or emolients, and cannont be within at least 5 feet of someone eating peanuts, because chewing them releases dust into the air. She carries benadryl and 2 epipens with her at all times and wears a medical alert necklace. Earlier this year, she had to be rushed to the emergency room because a classmate next to her unzipped a pencil bag and pulled out a peanut. The peanut dust that was in that bag was stirred up from the removal of that single nut and was enough to elicit a severe reaction. Her throat swelled up, she was covered in hives, and was on the verge of anaphyllaxis by the time she used the epipen. (Flying on a plane is a special challenge -- the flight crew cannot serve packaged peanuts and has to inform everyone on the plane to not eat peanuts that they might have brought with them because of the danger from peanut dust circulating through the ventilation system.)

If there is a child in your son's class with a peanut allergy, please take it very, very seriously. Even if no one food shares with him, the dust they release by opening a container of peanuts or eating nuts can affect him severely. If another child eats a PB sandwich and touches a doorknob, they can leave enough molecules of the allergen on the doorknob that it can cause an allergic reaction in the sensitive child if he touches it. With little kids, you can't rely on their handwashing habits to keep the other child safe. Even casual contact with someone who's eaten peanuts can cause a reaction. A couple of years ago, a 17-yr old girl died after she kissed her boyfriend on the lips after he had eaten some peanuts. Clearly, accidental exposure poses very great risks. In a school environment, this is unacceptable. And, it's not right to ask the child to be home schooled. They have to be able to live in the world like anyone else, and need to learn how to do so safely as they mature.

BTW, if you have an opportunity to talk to the other child's parents, ask them if they have talked to their child's allergist about omalizumab (Xolair). This is an IgE inhibitor and it can protect the child against accidental exposure to peanuts up to the equivalent of eating 9 peanuts.

OK, how many flames will I get about my comments on NAET?

Yes, allergies are getting much more common, and no one really knows why.

Peanut allergies are often fatal, unlike wheat, dust, and pollen allergies. My daughter (so far) has no allergies, but I have had a nut allergy for most of my life (I'm your age). If my husband eats a cashew and then kisses me, I'm in the emergency room, it's that bad. Last year a young girl died as a result of kissing someone who had eaten a peanut.

This is why schools have to be so strict about it - i's just too big a risk.

As a teacher I can tell you that peanut allergies are deadly for some children. There are children who are allergic to the extent that even if another child ate a PB sandwich and then touched them afterwards it could send the allergic child into major shock and possible life threatening symptoms such as swelling of the throat. Peanut allergies are one of the few DEADLY allergies out there. I am sure that if your child's gluten allergy were deadly the schools would ban gluten- but gluten is not a deadly allergy so you have nothing to worry about. If you do a little research online you will find that unfortunately peanut allergies are very serious and can be DEADLY for some children.

I'm the wife of a family practice physician, I do know peanut allergies are real and in some cases can be life threatening. Why they act differently than say a pollen or dander I'm not sure. Some food allergies can cause the airway to inflame causing the person to be unable to breathe. Shellfish allergies are usually another very potent allergy. Each individual can respond differently to the things they are allergic to anywhere from causing mucus, rashes, and even death. I don't understand the schools stand on peanut-butter however. My children ate peanut butter at school, still do and they are in high school now. My daughter is allergic to cantaloupe and me coconut. So we all have different things. I would talk to the school if your kids really like PB&J sandwiches. I know I used to periodically take a cookie cutter and cut them into shapes as a surprise, they loved it! Hope that helps.

Hi ..I wanted to tell you that these allergies are for real...one of my twin daughters has a severe peanut allergy and nut allergy that I have to carry an epipen with me at all times...because these nuts can be lethal to her. As for why we are seeing such an emergence...I think it is a combination of things that include genetics as well as environment. I am the vice president of a support group for moms, dads and basically anyone who has or cares for a child with severe food allergies. If you are interested in attending our first meeting it will be held on February 19th at 7pm at St Rose Dominican Sienna in the McDonald Conference room. We will be having Sean McKnight do a presentation called the Nuts and Bolts of Allergies. Please attend and if you have any other questions please feel free to respond....A.

Hi. My son has many allergies and the worst of them is peanuts. He is only 16 months, so we haven't had to deal with the school scenario yet. I definitely think there is something going on in our environment today that is causing all these new food allergies because I haven't ever had any myself and my son has all of them. However, I don't think this is a big plot to cover up what is really going on. We have done multiple blood tests and skin test and my son surely is allergic. I have researched this problem and have heard many stories of children dying from exposure to peanuts. It is the worst food allergy and that is why they take it so seriously. Just the other night we had out first encounter when our friends were over with their 2 year old son. They are aware of our sons allergies but people who haven't experienced it don't understand. Unknown to be, their son spilled some cookies on the ground, which happen to be peanut butter cookies. My son picked it up and was eating it when I caught it. It was a horrible night. The EMT's came and we were sent to the ER. He was throwing up, got a rash all over, and he was having breathing problems. That was from residue of a piece of a cookie because I got the big chunk out. I worry just about leaving him with a baby sitter who has other children, and I am scared to death of when he starts school. There is a ton of info on the web about allergies. I hope this helps.

Yes, it's a real allergy, and yes, it can be life threatening. Peanut butter is such a staple of childhood that when we first discovered that my son was allergic, I wondered what in the world we would feed him. We discovered his allergy by accident. If he touches anything with peanut butter or peanuts in it, his fingers and hands swell up to at least twice their normal size. If he accidentally eats something with peanut products in it, his face swells up, his lips swell horribly, his eyes swell shut and worst of all, the swelling in his throat closes off his supply of air. We once had this happen in a movie theater. We always buy a large popcorn and share it, and we'd never had any problems until that day. We discovered, after we got the medicine we always have to carry into him, that the theater had popped our popcorn in peanut oil that day (they usually use vegetable oil.) Last time he got his hair cut (he's now 13) he had swelling and a rash on his face and head that we couldn't figure out until he remembered that the woman cutting his hair had been snacking on trail mix - with peanuts. As soon as he took Benadryl, the swelling and rash went away.

I'm not sure if there are more allergies now, or if there's just more people and therefore you'll run into more kids with allergies. I know that the same schools I went to as a kid now have almost three times the same number of students as they did when I attended. Also, when I was a kid it was very embarrassing to admit that you had allergies or any other medical condition that made you different. Thankfully, that's changed, and people feel free to talk about it.

The school policy is based on the same fear that most school policies are based on anymore - fear of lawsuits. The last school my children attended (before we began homeschooling) had a no touch policy - you were forbidden to ever come into physical contact with any other person at school, child or adult. They hoped this would mean no assaults and no complaints of molestation, but how realistic is it to ask elementary students to never hug, tag, or put arms over shoulders? The school also followed a national trend and forbade playing tag. They focus on peanut allergies because many other allergies only lead to distress (vomitting, runny eyes and nose, diarhea) and a peanut reaction can cause a child to die from suffocation.

Peanut allergies are very life threatening. I have a friend whose son can die if a kid with peanut butter o0n his hand touches a toy then my friend's kid touches it. My son is allergic to wheat, milk, pollen etc. but thankfully not nuts. My friend has to carry a syringe with her in case the school calls. She has to inject him with adreniline so his heart will restart. I definitely respect nut- bans at schools.

Hi D.,

Living with food allergies is difficult. I feel bad for the kids who have multiple food allergies or food allergies to wheat, since they have to avoid birthday cake and Wonder bread and lots of other fun "kid" stuff. My son has a peanut allergy and to answer some of your questions, yes a peanut allergy differs greatly from an allergy to dust or pollen. Unlike the children with pollen allergies when a child with a peanut allergy is exposed to peanuts their reactions are much more severe. It is not just a runny nose thing. Children with a peanut or tree nut allergy will go into anaphylactic shock which means their bronchial tubes and windpipe swell to the point that they stop breathing and unless given an immediate shot of adrenaline will die! Also, for most peanut allergy kids touching or sometimes even just smelling peanuts will start an allergic reaction. We found out that my son had a peanut allergy because I made peanut butter cookies when he was 7 months old and touched him when I was done. He broke out in hives and his eyes swelled shut. He never touched the peanuts and I had washed my hands before touching him, but he still had a severe reaction. Schools adopt the no peanut policy sometimes because during lunch a little peanut butter may get on the table and then later a child with a peanut allergy will sit there and get the allergen on their food causing that life threatening allergic reaction. I know that it is frustrating as a mother not to be able to pack a PB&J for school, but I thank you greatly as the mother with a peanut allergy kid. I truly worry for him at lunch time.

As to why there are more food allergies today, no one has an answer. My husband and I don't have food allergies, and our daughter does not have food allergies. From research I have found out that one of his second cousins has a peanut allergy, so it is probably genetic. There are lots of good books and websites out there about food allergies. Do an internet search if you want more information.

Hi D.. my name is K., I am a 18 year old mother of 3 boys, and I am a paramedic of 15 years. I am not sure what has happened in our society to have the major changes arise anywhere from deadly allergies to Autism. What I can tell you is that any allergy can be anywhere from mild to deadly. They range of symptoms of simple redness to the skin, to hives, to the lungs closing up and the throat swelling shut. Most people that have nut allergies, I think of as the worst case scenario, that is called anaphylaxis. It is what people who have bee sting allergies get and those people usually carry around a medication in a "pen" or syringe called an "Epi pen".

So it is extremely important I think for that particular child with the allergy to not buy lunches, or share lunches. I am not sure of the laws within schools. It seems to me it would be difficult to put the whole school on these restrictions. To me the child alone, with their family, should be the ones to take the action. And if the child is too young to administer the epi pen, the school staff should be able to be aware and do this.

As for the dust, pollen or even gluten allergies, I have never heard of a case where someone would go into anaphylaxis due to these allergies. And I would think that someone with a gluten allergy WOULD in fact take care of themselves and bring their own lunches. I completely agree with you on this. The peanut allergies are a totally different "animal", so to speak. But to me it is the same, where the student and family are the ones responsible. It is just that since the child could die, and we are a society to "Sues" everthing, then we tend to go overboard to protect ourselves.
i hope this helps.

K.

I would say, I have never been allergic to nut. I have a family farm and we grow pecans, so when one day I had a severe reaction I cut way back on consumption. I went to a food show and was complaining about it. I was then told that I probably was not allergic to nuts but the PESTICIDE, well low and behold when I eat organic ones I don't have the problem.

just seeing the response I am curious too

Peanur allergies can be deadly to some kids...even if they don't eat them and are just near them. Usually seasonal allergies don't cause childrens airways to close and have them go into shock and die. I think you hear about it more now beacuse of research and people didn't know before. I don't know what I would do if I couldn't give my son a pb and j ehn he goes to school, it is one of the only things he will eat :)

Hi D.,

I understand your thinking. It's nuts isn't it(no pun intended!)? My kids have been born and breed 'naturally'. I'm aware of the connection of allergies (and other side affects)from vaccinations, non organic foods due to pesticides, etc....the list is long. So when my son had a 'reaction' to peanut butter when he was 3...I was surprised. It happened 3 times. We are not peanut butter eaters at home since it isn't as good for you as almond butter. So this didn't happen at home it happened at a crafts class that I had my son in at that time.
I finally brought it to the attention of my herbalist and asked him what he thought. Since I knew that if it continued, when he started school they'd want me to provide an epi pen. I found out that it's typically NOT the peanuts that cause the problem! According to my herbalist (and subsequently 2 other doctors agreed), it's the MOLD that forms inside the SHELL of the peanuts while being stored in the big silo's, that seem to be the culprit. They haven't figured out a way for the mold not to form while in storage I guess. So what happens I'm told is when the peanuts are then processed for use and de -shelled....the mold just goes right in with the peanuts and get's 'mixed' in. Equally whatever sticks to the shell goes with the shell.
My son is now 7 and just won't touch any nut except for cashews...haha....just cuz he remembers the feeling of that reaction when he was younger. What he doesn't know is that granola bars and a few other items he eats DOES have some peanuts in them.....and yet he's never had a reaction again or since. So it seemed to be just the straight peanut butter from your basic brands from the grocery stores that caused his reaction. We've tried the organic brands as well. They seemed better. But once we discovered that almond butter is actually GOOD for you cuz it is the 'good' fat...instead of the fats that peanuts provide....we switched anyway.
I know you can find various 'nut' butters instead of peanut butter only - at various stores like a Trader Joes, Henry's or Whole Foods Markets.
At least there is an alternative and I think it tastes better.

Anyway, fact or theory....that's what I was told and what I discovered. Something to think about anyway.

Hope you find the answer you are looking for.

T.

My 23 month old son Aaron is alergic to peanuts, and boy did I find out the hard way. When he was 18 months old, I gave him 1/4 of a peanut butter sandwich for the first time. As he sat in his high chair examining this newly introduced food, I could tell that he was not very excited about it. After a few minutes though, he decided to try a bite. As soon as he did, the symptoms flared up. His eyes started to pour with tears, his nose ran like a faucet, his lips and tongue started to swell, and he was covered in hives. I immediately called the doctor and she told me to give him a dose of Benadryl and rush him to emergency. They treated him with steroids and introduced me to the Epipen. This is an Epinephron shot that I have to keep with Aaron in case of accidental exposure to Peanuts. This alergy can be deadly, so I have to remind him and everyone around him that he MUST stay away from all peanut products. I am happy to hear that schools are aware of this problem and are supportive. Why has it become more of an issue now that before? That I don't know. But keeping peanuts out of school is a small inconvenience for those without alergies, but a potentially life saving practice for those who have them.

Peanut allergies can be fatal! Some kids are so allergic that even just touching something with peanuts can be extremely life threatening. And if you've ever been at school when kids have lunch, you know that they're into everything. There's no way to police it. You know, I also think the peanut ban is extreme, but when something is that serious, I understand the exception.

Hi D.. You raise a lot of great questions that I wish I had the answers to. My children love peanut butter & jelly sandwiches. A few years ago, my daughter came home from school and said she didn't want them anymore. After a few weeks, I found out the answer--she was being taken out of the class group, eating alone or with a few other children and then would be taken through an ordeal of washing out her mouth and her hands, all the way up to her elbows. She was mortified. Her school didn't have a peanut-free zone but a peanut zone for the children who brought it. When I was searching for new schools, I didn't enroll them in a peanut-free school because I didn't think that was fair to them. Now, my children have allergies--don't get me wrong. They're allergic to milk, eggs, dogs, cats, dust mites, and different tree pollens. but they're not severe reactions and I don't sweat it too much (except the animals because they make their eyes swell shut). Three months ago, my husband accidentally fed our youngest (8 mos) a couple spoonfuls of peanut butter ice cream. We were out and he didn't think twice about offering her some. Within 24 hours, she had hives all over her body and was coughing. She has since been tested twice and got the same reaction--it is not immediate--but within 24 hours, she's coughing and has hives. She's going to be tested every three months this year and then every six months thereafter because reactions 24hrs later are rare and odd. I'm not punishing my other children. I still serve them Peanut butter but I just keep it away from the little one. By the way, until I had my children tested, we had no history of any allergies in our family except hay fever seasonal stuff. The constant discussion at school right now is the ridiculous amount of allergies. We cannot bring anything to school in my oldest's classroom because of wheat, peanut, gluten, and red dye allergies. It was not like that when I went to school! And the question really does go back to life style and environment. We've been coughing since we moved to California six months ago....
And within the last month I had the flu and was given four different antibiotics that I'd been on before and got allergic reactions to them--throat closed, eyes watering, coughing, all over body rash. What's up with that?
Good Luck in your quest.

Well, I am gald you took the initiative to ask.
Alleries are nothing new. I have had them since birth, and so has 90% of my family - this is an auto-immune disease.

Have allergies increased yes - as has the population - but is it epidemic now? yes. 1 in 5 kids born today will have a food allergy.

Please seperate food allergy from pollen etc. One is digested (although you in take pollen allergies and can have a complete systemic reaction - it is less likely), and one is inhaled. Food allergy goes directly to the gastro intestinal tract where 70% of your immune system lies. A food allergy - particularly peanuts, nuts, fish, seafood, etc can be and often times are deadly. People with peanut allergy can react to someone else eating it close to them, reactions are typically deadly - angioedema, analphalaxis.

what causes it? get in line. We have no real clue a lot of R and D - but nothing truly conclusive. There are genetics, over population, polution etc.we are working hard to understand but it is very complex. No other country is experiencing the level of increase we have (although it has spiked). Demand organic, demand sustainable farming - Chemicals are a large part of our pollutents along with GMO's.....but I could go on forever.

As far as you ask about a cover up of other problems - well there is now a clear link between gluten\wheat allergies and the creation of one type of autism - but like I said we have not even touched the surface yet.

We can have flowers - it will cause major irritation - peanuts - that will cause death. There is your reason. No they can't enforce not sharing - but more importantly some kids don't even need to share to react.

I am not allergic to peanuts - but I have been witness to an 18 year old who went into caridac arrest. have your kids eat it at home. It is not like a peanut and jelly sandwhich is necessary or even healthy.

Are u aware that all peanuts have a fungus on them - which is why you should never by fresh or local by the way, as the major brands are more rigourously tested for removal of fungus. this fungus is now linked to liver cancer.

On a personal note - I am severely allergic to animals (I suffocate) but I have to go to bloomigdales, Neiman's etc and be around people who bring there dogs to the store or on the plane (mind you Air Canada has banned it as two people died on board). It is time we are more sensitive to the needs of others.

Dear D.:

My suggestion is that you visit naet.com and order and read the bood "Say Good-Bye to Children's Allergies." Here's the info from the book:

"Say Good-bye to Children’s Allergies
By - Devi S. Nambudripad, M.D., D.C., L.Ac., R.N., Ph.D.

In Say Good-bye to Children’s Allergies, Dr. Devi S. Nambudripad, the developer of NAET®, will help you understand your child’s illness and will assist you in finding the right help to achieve better health for your child. This book will show you how certain commonly used products in your foods and environment can cause health problems in your child; how you can test your child in your privacy of your own home using the Nambudripad’s Testing Techniques described in the book. This book will educate you how your child’s health problems can relate to allergy, a traditionally under-diagnosed or misdiagnosed condition; and, how allergies can manifest into myriad symptoms that might seem unrelated. The author also provides remedies for mild conditions of common childhood ailments arising from allergies and how to find help in assisting your child find the right help for serious problems such as, asthma, hay-fever, common colds, sinus problems, milk allergy, peanut allergy, sugar allergy, hives, gastritis, vomiting, colic for newborns, ear infections, irritable bowel syndrome, colitis, bronchitis, drug reactions, and many other conditions. Dr. Nambudripad explains how allergies are often the underlying causes to pediatric problems and how NAET® testing procedures and NAET® treatments can offer relief from these allergies. The book is supported by NAET® practitioners’ testimonials and patients’ success stories."

I am glad you asked this question because I think many people probably have this question as well and don't quite understand it.

Peanut allergies are very real and very life threatening. About 3% of the population is allergic, but not all peanut allergies are fatal ones. My husband has a severe peanut allergy. If he eats even an eighth of a peanut in anything (perhaps less) he'll go into antiphylaxis. His throat will close up very quickly and he will not be able to breathe. We have to carry shots with us of epinephrin wherever we go. The shots will only (hopefully) delay a reaction for about 20 minutes if he is lucky so he can make it to a hospital. He has come very close to dying from this two times, once in first grade, when he asked if a cookie at a school picnic had nuts in it and an adult said no- even though it was a peanut butter cookie. One bite and he couldn't breathe. The other time was when we were in college and something in the school cafeteria was not marked. Turned out, in the whole huge batch of sugar cookies, they had used 1 teaspoon of peanut butter as thickener and had not marked it. I witnessed air being pumped down my husband's lungs and 4 epinephrin shots frantically being stuck in his leg. I saw him nearly give up and he came as close as ever to dying from the allergy.

Some people are even more severe in their allergies. When my husband is on an airplane, it is very uncomfortable when people open their bags of peanuts, but he doesn't react to airborne particles, though some people are so sensitive that they can react to the air particles. This is why some airlines have stopped having peanuts onboard.

It was hard for my husband in school when he was young because there was less knowledge of the allergy. On other kid's birthdays he could never have the cupcake in case it had peanut butter, so his mom would make him a special one (which didn't always make him blend in so well at school). It was very tough for him, and very difficult for his parents to send him off each day.

He doesn't necessarily think all peanut butter should be taken out of schools though - I agree it is extreme, but I think it probably bring peace of mind to some parents.

My husband has a PhD is biochemistry and is now going into his residency to be a doctor, and has considered going into allergies and immunology. Little is really known about why the body reacts this way to something so harmless to others, and there is not a lot of evidence to suggest specifics about whether people are just more aware of it now or if there are more cases due to other environmental factors. Peanut allergies are very specific and definitely not used to explain away other things. Gluten is also a very real allergy, but I believe very few actually have a severe allergy to it, and the side effects for eating gluten when you are allergic are less acute. More often than not, it will be digestive problems or throwing up, etc. So there is way more time to remedy the situation should someone allergic eat gluten. My husband suspects that the huge increase recently in "gluten allergies" may be a way to explain away some people's unknown ailments, but the allergy is real for others.

I hope that helps clarify things. I'm due with my first baby (a boy) in April, and we are very much hoping he doesn't have the allergy, as it is somewhat hereditary.

Hi D.,
I am a preschool teacher who has a son who has developed a "sensitivity" (i.e. allergy) to shellfish. I have also had other highly allergic children in my classes. The allergy to peanuts and shellfish and sometimes bee stings can cause an anaphalactic(sp?) reaction. This can cause swelling of face and throat resulting in blocking of the trachea (airway), a dramatic decrease in blood pressure and heartrate. Death from suffocation, or cardiac arrest are possible. This reaction can happen immediately upon exposure, which is why people who have these sensitivities carry epipens (a syringe with epinephrine in it that they jab into their thigh to allow them 10-20 extra minutes to reach an emergency room. This is nothing to mess around with as every time they are exposed to even teeny amount of the allergen, they become more sensitive and the reaction is more serious. Peanuts in storage many times develop a mold (I forgot the name) and this is what people are allergic to. I think it may be the mass production of peanut butter resulting in more peanuts in storage, or perhaps that we now realize what is causing anaphalaxis as possible reasons for increased incidence of allergy. Schools ban peanuts because even touching peanut butter and touching a cafeteria table can leave enough of a residue to cause a reaction hours later. I saw it happen with a child who had many allergies and came into contact with a small amount of yoghurt on a table that other children had eaten at. I heard of one young woman who died from an anaphalactic reaction in the early evening after kissing her boyfriend who had eaten a PB&J sandwich in the morning and still had traces of the oils in his mouth. The schools aren't overreacting they need to take these steps to protect these children. The root cause of the increase in allergies very well may be the increased pollution of our environment to the point where our bodies can't handle it, but that is a topic for another discussion. One last note, you can develop these kinds of severe reactions at any time in your life. My son's favorite food was shrimp until at 15 years old he had his first reaction. It is also possible to lose your sensitivity but it is not worth exposing oneself to find out. He feels crappy for a week afterward and the shots they give him to counter the reaction hurt a lot too.

D.

HI D.,

Yes, sadly, peanut allergies can be life-threatening, and in some cases the allergic child does not need to eat the peanuts, but exposure to redidue on a table or chair can trigger an episode. I don't know of one certain answer as to why so many kids are allergic, but there are a lot of theories. I expect you'll be inundated with responses! :-)

Newsweek did an article on allergies and kids not too long ago; if you can access the article on-line or at the library, that might be a starting point for you.

C. H-S.

Peanut allergies are REAL and are LETHAL. My nephew (6 years old) has one and can't breathe if he gets even a tiny amount of peanut into his system. My cousin's friend died at the age of 22 because of her peanut allergy. I'm not sure if they're so much more prevalent, or if it's just that they're more "out there" in the public now. Either way, they're very serious and should be taken seriously.

Hi D.,
My son has many allergies, a lot of the common food ones and environmental as well. He's been seen by an allergist who tested him for a number of reasons that we were concerned about.

When he was much younger, he had rashes that appeared and would go away with cortisone creams but would appear again. We thought it was just a skin allergy due to detergents and the environment. It was eczema. Then after feeding him cooked eggs one day, he went right to sleep. Half an hour later, he woke up to vomit. We thought it was just because he over ate, but that wasn't the case when we fed it to him again. He had the same reaction to the eggs all over again. We've never given him nuts of any kind whatsoever, because we're afraid of what may happen.

Taking him to an allergist was probably the best thing we could have done for him. The allergist had blood work done on him and found many things he's allergic to: peanuts, walnuts, codfish, shrimp, wheat, soy, oats and eggs. It was starting to make sense when my son would react to eating certain kinds of foods because he was allergic to them! He would break out in hives and we didn't know why. When I would apply Aveeno lotion or cream, the oatmeal in it made him feel worse and I couldn't understand why either.

And there are children with very real allergies to peanuts. Their bodies can go into anaphylaxis, where someone who has an allergic reaction to food or even bee stings can cause difficulty breathing, stomach cramps, vomiting, breaking out into hives, etc. and the whole entire body responds to that allergen. There have been cases where children have died because the severity of their allergy(ies).

Many say allergies run in families, I do not have any known allergies but my husband and his siblings have when they were much younger. I also have a cousin who is allergic to fish and shellfish. I think a lot of it has to do with our foods and with the pollutants in our air. Just like you said, years ago we didn't hear this kind of stuff but it's becoming more and more prevalent. Schools and teachers need to be more aware of what's going on. My son's preschool teacher says this is the first time she's dealing with a student with food allergies, even though her own grandson has allergies too!

If you'd like to know more about it, you can visit these sites:

www.foodallergy.org
www.allergicchild.com
www.aaaai.org

Hope this info. will make you aware too.

Ok - so Dr's say not to give infants peanut products along with wheat and cows milk because of allergies. I have to wonder if the spike in allergies has anything to do with our rush to raise our kids. I read in one of the responses that this spike is not seen in other countries/cultures. Is it because they focus on breastfeeding the first year? I have friends with small babies who can't wait to feed that first cereal and other foods. I'm in no rush to feed the next food to my daughter, she's almost 7 months old and we're still working on intruducing veges. Another reason babies are not fed solids before 6 months is because their gut is not completely developed and actually has openings in it so the food/nutrients are absorbed incorrectly. Does anyone here have kids with peanut, wheat, or milk allergies but didn't give their child these things before a year old?

Nut allergies have been around for a very long time. My sister-in laws father is allergic to peanuts. It is life threatening people who are allergic start having problems breathing...like people allergic to bee stings.
however I did not know that there was such a thing as no peanut butter sandwiches. I always send them to school with my son & had never honestly thought about it!

Yes there is such a thing as a peanut allergy and nut allergy. My son is allergic to nuts verified by a blood test which determines exactly which nuts are worse than others, for him cashews are the most dangerous and nut allergies can worsen with age. He vomits and could have trouble breathing etc just like a shellfish allergy, bee sting etc., few reasons you hear more about allergies, the INTERNET is a big one, media, more communication with fellow humans!! I suggest you use the internet to educate yourself about allergies if you don't trust your Dr., or perhaps find another DR. and ask them questions about allergies. My grandfather was allergic to shellfish and was 95 years old this is nothing new!!!!!

My nephew has an allergy to peanuts. His father, a chemist, thinks that peanut allergies evolved from scientists changing the genetic make-up of peanuts to make them resistant to disease and adverse weather conditions. But this is just his opinion and I haven't studied the subject myself.

Great questions!

I have never heard of anyone dying from a pollen or gluten allergy, but people do die from peanut alleries. Mostly, I think, because the reaction is much more than a sneeze, runny nose or itchy skin. I have seen how very scary it can be with my own daughter and thankful we got her to the ER in time. A blood test confirmed she is allergic to peanuts, that's how we know that's what it is and not some other medical issue.

It is real, it is deadly and even if you really think your kids have never shared lunch with anyone, others do. In fact, most do at some point and why would they tell us. ;-) There are not enough staff members in the schools to watch every single child every single second, so food does get passed around; and for our little ones that aren't old enough to understand, it can be life threatening.

As to your question of why so much more now, I ask myself that all the time. Partially we have science to thank, we simply know more now. Knowledge is keeping these kids safe, I hope. Otherwise, it is probably also due to chemicals, hormones, etc. Who knows, I wish someone did!

Good for you for educating yourself. I had a mother bring peanut butter into my home, her kids got it on their hands and then played with my kids' toys. That could have killed my daughter had I not seen it. And she knew about the allergy - I was furious. But then I realized, she had no idea what a peanut allergy really meant, how dangerous it was and how just smelling it for some kids can be deadly. I wish more parents took an interest like you.

Dear D.,

There are different levels of allergic reactions, from itching and hives to respiratory distress (anaphalactic shock) - which can lead to death. Peanut allergies tend toward anaphalactic shock - and some, I believe only need to breathe it to start a reaction. If your child were to stop breathing because there were peanuts or peanut butter in the room, I'm sure you would prefer a ban on campus to taking the chance!

Why not google peanut allergies to see what you find out . . .
B.

Peanut allergies can be life threatening! Allergies to pollens, dust, etc. may cause the usual sneezing and watery eyes. Other food allergies can cause stomach problems, itching, eczema and hives. But peanut allergies can cause anaphylactic reactions - the airways can swell and close up and the person is not able to breathe. Peanut allergies can be so severe that some people can react when a person next to them has had peanuts. There are cases of people dying even when they receive their epi-pen quickly (an injection used to reverse the anaphalxis). If a child at school has peanut butter, there is a real risk of exposing a peanut allergic child. An unwashed hand, or a smudge, or nut particles on a child's breath could cause a reaction. I remember seeing a show years ago about nut allergies that seemed hard to believe. Now I have a 3 y.o. child that tested 6 out of a possible 6 for peanut allergies amongst her many other food allergies. I understand that its a huge inconvenience for other parents to forgo peanut items in lunches. I have a 6 year old that I tried to fatten up with peanut butter! But you have no idea of the constant fear that parents of children with nut allergies live with on a daily basis. We appreciate everyone's help in keeping our children safe. I hope this helps.

This is a tremendously serious allergy that certainly is life threatening. Anecdotally, a young man from my college died at 20 years of age when he ate crackers from a vending machine--they had trace elements from peanuts. He knew of his allergy and was usually cautious. If the crackers were manufactured in a plant that also processes peanuts, his crackers could be contaminated. That is why packaging now states "packaged in a plant that also processes peanuts" or something to that effect. The allergy is so severe that if a person touches his peanut butter and a bit gets on the allergic person's hand and is passed to his mouth, swelling can begin immediately and his airways are blocked leading to his immediate death.... Allergies to other things do not cause as serious a reaction as peanuts do. As others have mentioned, shellfish cause a similar reaction but aren't as common in so many packaged foods. That is why baby books tell parents of newborns not to introduce peanut butter until a child passes 12 months. So, in answer to your question, allergies to gluten are not the same as allergies to peanuts.

Hi D.--
You have lots of great responses below. I skimmed them a bit, and hope that I'm not redundant. I LOVE peanuts, but about 13 years ago, I started to get a physical reaction when I ate them. Mostly it was severe abdominal cramping, headaches, and the skin around my eyes would become very puffy. I started reading about nuts and peanuts to find out why I was all of the sudden reacting. Someone below suggested that it was because of pesticides, and I think that was part of the problem, but I also found that inorganic peanuts are grown in rotation with cotton which is NOT a food and therefore does not require the same treatment as a food. (You may know that peanuts are legumes, and actually grow underground, so they're greatly effected by the residual chemicals in the soil from the cotton). There are more and more peanut allergies every year, and as many have mentioned below, they are way more severe than other allergies. I think if a person has a full blown nut/peanut allergy, then even the organic products cannot be consumed, but for me, all I had to do was switch to organic versions and I'm fine. Also, my children don't have a problem, thankfully. Anyway, I hope this little bit of information helps; I found it interesting when I had all the same questions as you do.

Hi D.,
I agree with you with the whole allergy issues. I have noticed also that on many packages now a days, you'll see that "peanuts also processed in our plant." I don't know much about this issue, but I do work in a school kitchen. We have a list that shows if a child has an allergy, and what it is, because if a child cannot pay for lunch, he/she gets a peanut butter sandwich for the main portion.

Can I ask you what kind of internet business you have? I have never heard of someone who actually makes money from having an internet business. I would like to know what you do, if I could. My husband is temp. totally disabled, and I work in the school district in the kitchen, and also do subbing as a custodian in the evenings.

Also, about the peanut issue, I would ask your pediatrician about it, or look on webmd.com, that might have more info.

Thanks and God bless!
M.

Peanut allergies are more serious than most other allergies and many children with them are more sensitive -- to the point where a small amount can set off an allergic reaction. It doesn't have to be eaten. My understanding is it can be touched or inhaled. Many are life threatening -- they really can die from an allergic reaction. And it's also my understanding that you can't tell from the allergy test whether your child would die or not from a reaction. It's really that serious, My son was in a preschool class with a child a serious allergies, including peanut. His teacher carried an epi pen with the class wherever they went in case she needed to inject him. We didn't bring nuts to school because it was a small class. It was a pain sometimes, but it was a life or death issue so we adjusted.

Peanut allergies ARE VERY SERIOUS AND VERY LIFE THREATHENING. They can cause a range of reactions which include skin rash,digestive system reactions, asthma, anaphylaxis-throat swell and closes up, trouble breathing,drop in blood pressure, dizziness and collapse. If you really want to know more, read page 827 of the Merck Manual of Medical Information Home Edition, 1998. It states " A food allergy is an allergic reaction to a particular food. A much more common condition, food intolerance, isn't an allergic reaction but is any other undesirable effect of eating a particular food. Many people can't tolerate certain foodsa for various reasons other than food allergy; for example, they may lack an enzyme necessary for digesting the food." There is much more in the explanation.