Peanut Allergies In Children: What Can Be Done To Lower the Risk

​Emily Goldsmith, BS, MA

Growing up, I was hyper aware of the risks associated with food allergies, as my mom has a severe peanut allergy. She always carried an epi-pen, inquired about ingredients at bakeries and restaurants, and was uncomfortable on airplanes when peanut snacks were served. Despite being cautious, a wayward peanut snuck into a baked good or sauce a few times and these incidents were very scary as I witnessed my mom’s breathing become difficult and we rushed to the emergency room. My mom is not alone in this experience; today peanut allergies, which are often severe, are currently estimated to impact 1-2% of children and  have increased from affecting .4% of people in 1997 to 1.4% in 2008. 

​With the large impact that peanut allergies have on individuals, understanding possible ways to prevent peanut allergies has been the subject of public health research. Research has shown that early introduction of peanuts into a child’s diet can reduce the risk of developing a peanut allergy and, in 2017, led the American Academy of Pediatricians to update guidelines encouraging peanut introduction   around 6 months of age, rather than the prior recommendation of waiting until children are three years old.  As a mother of a 6-month-old, I was nervous the first time I fed my son peanut butter, but happy to know this would help prevent him developing the severe allergy that my mom coped with (and peanut butter mixed with oatmeal has now become his favorite food!)
While these recommendations help guide families after their child is born to reduce the risk that their child develops a severe peanut allergy, is there anything that can be done before birth? Previous guidelines encouraged pregnant women to avoid peanut consumption, but newer research has shown that eating peanuts during pregnancy doesn’t contribute to a higher risk of developing an allergy and  some studies have shown that it may contribute to lowering the risk. A 2014 study from Project Viva showed that children born to mothers with higher peanut consumption during their first trimester had a lower risk of experiencing an allergic reaction to peanuts by mid-childhood (around age 8). While more research is needed to further understand the connection between prenatal peanut consumption and childhood allergies, it’s encouraging to know this may be a way for pregnant women to decrease their child’s risk. Fortunately, public health research is showing that having a peanut allergy isn’t just a random fate that will impact certain children; mitigating actions can be taken to allow more children to have a childhood where they can enjoy peanut butter and jelly sandwiches without worry!