In an analysis published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice, researchers conducted supervised "food challenges" with infants diagnosed with a peanut allergy. These challenges involved giving the babies increasing amounts of peanut protein, with the intention of confirming whether they indeed had an allergy.
"This rate is much higher than we thought," study co-author Dr. Timothy Brettig, a pediatric allergist at the National Allergy Centre of Excellence in Australia, told Live Science.
For their initial diagnosis, the babies had to have a history of an allergic reaction to peanuts and show evidence of peanut sensitization on an allergy test. These tests included a skin-prick test, in which peanut extract is placed on the skin before it's lightly pricked, to check for a local reaction; and blood tests that detect antibodies against peanut proteins.
Of the 1,275 infants, 778 later underwent a food challenge roughly six months after their first recorded allergic reaction; at that point, their median age was 13 months old. They were given up to seven gradually increasing doses of peanut protein, ranging from 15 to 1,300 milligrams. These doses were given at 15-minute intervals while medical staff monitored the children for signs of an allergic reaction.
"This is an excellent article," said Dr. Drew Bird, a pediatric allergist at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center who was not involved in the study. "The take-home message is to strongly consider a supervised oral food challenge when an infant's peanut allergy diagnosis is uncertain."
An incorrect diagnosis can prompt families to unnecessarily avoid exposing their children to peanuts. (Image credit: Yevgen Romanenko via Getty Images)
The starting dose is often determined through a similar oral food challenge to the one used in this study, though. So in theory, that challenge would help reveal whether the child needs treatment in the first place.
In this study, 507 infants reacted during the food challenge, and of those, 61 developed anaphylaxis and were treated with epinephrine (the hormone in EpiPens).
Related stories"In an ideal world, with infinite resources," Santos said, "all patients except for those with a history of severe reactions would have a food challenge for diagnosis."
Food challenges should be prioritized for infants whose allergy diagnoses are uncertain, she said. This would include babies who have low levels of peanut-specific antibodies in their blood or who show only small welts on skin-prick tests.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to offer medical advice.
Hence then, the article about one third of babies diagnosed with peanut allergy don t actually have one study hints was published today ( ) and is available on Live Science ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( One-third of babies diagnosed with peanut allergy don't actually have one, study hints )
Also on site :