Peanut allergy

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What is Peanut allergy?

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Food allergies, including allergy to peanuts and other nuts, can have effects at several different sites in the body, including the mouth, throat, lungs, skin and gastrointestinal tract. Often more than one site in the body is affected at the same time, and the reaction can be generalised, such as anaphylactic shock.

Who gets Peanut allergy?

Peanut allergy affects 1 in 50 children and 1 in 200 adults in Australia.³

Predisposing Factors

As with most allergic diseases, people with a personal or family history of other allergic diseases are more likely to develop peanut allergy. Research is ongoing to determine whether early exposure to peanuts increases or decreases the risk of developing peanut allergy in high risk children.

Progression

In most cases, peanut allergy and allergy to other nuts is lifelong. There have been some reports in the literature of patients who have developed a tolerance to peanuts and tree nuts over time.⁵

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