Health
The growing problem of peanut allergies
Parents tend to be quite
familiar with food allergies.
In an effort to protect
youngsters, schools have
begun to crack down more
regularly on foods that tend
to cause allergic reactions,
often placing restrictions on
what children can bring in for
lunches or snacks.
Parents and children who
grew up around peanut and
tree nut allergies are quite
familiar with what triggers
allergic reactions associated
with such foods, and the potential
side effects of consuming
these foods. But those who
are less experienced with food
allergies may not know what
to expect.
According to the Mayo
Clinic, being allergic to peanuts
is one of the more common
food allergies, especially
among children. Many people
who are allergic to peanuts —
although not all, as are peanuts
are legumes, not nuts —
are also allergic to tree nuts,
including walnuts, almonds,
and pecans.
As with any allergen, reactions
Some lesser known allergy symptoms
Caribbean L 54 ife, June 7–13, 2019
vary from person to
person. Some may experience
mild symptoms, such as light
rashes or swelling, while others
may have severe reactions,
including anaphylactic shock,
which is characterized by
shortness of breath, a severe
drop in blood pressure, constriction
of airways, and potential
heart failure. According
to Spire Health Partners,
more than 3 million people in
the United States have a peanut
allergy, and one-third of
them will suffer from a severe
symptom if they ingest peanuts.
A peanut allergy occurs
when your body mistakenly
identifi es peanut proteins as
something that can be harmful.
Just as your body might
fi ght a cold, it releases chemicals
from the immune system
to fi ght off the peanut invader.
The number of kids with peanut
allergies has been increasing
over the last 10 to 15 years,
doubling in the last half-decade
alone. It isn’t known why
some people are prone to peanut
allergies while others are
not. However, Dr. Michael
C. Young, Assistant Clinical
Professor of Pediatrics at
Harvard Medical School and
a practicing pediatrician at
Children’s Hospital, has a few
ideas. Nursing mothers and
very young children are eating
more peanuts, particularly
in the form of peanut
butter, than ever before, something
that Young feels could
be causing a higher incidence
rate of peanut allergies. Young
also theorizes that better hygiene
may play a role, suggesting
that because children
have fewer infections (due to
improved hygiene and routine
immunizations), their immune
systems are more likely
to target other things, such as
foods and environmental factors,
resulting in allergies.
Although peanut allergies
are prevalent and can be dangerous,
there is no reason to
act rashly. Young notes that
approximately 20 percent of
children will outgrow their
peanut allergies by the age
of 6, and he advises that it is
worth having a child retested
as he gets older to gauge if
there have been any changes
in the status of the peanut allergy.
When dealing with peanut
allergies, it is important to
separate myths from facts:
Direct contact is the most
common cause of a reaction.
This results from eating
peanuts or foods that contain
peanuts. Cross-contamination,
which occurs when peanuts
unintentionally come
into contact with other foods,
is another common cause.
Some people can have a
reaction by touching peanuts
with their skin. A rash
may occur, but a very dangerous
reaction will not result
unless the peanuts enter the
mouth or come into contact
with the nose or eyes.
An allergic reaction can
occur from inhalation of
peanut dust. Peanut fl our or
ground shells can be problematic.
Aerosol cooking sprays
that contain peanut oil also
can produce a reaction.
Peanut proteins can be
detected in some people’s
saliva after eating peanuts.
The study done by Mount Sinai
School of Medicine in New
York found that a kiss could
transfer some of the peanut allergens
to another person.
Sometimes an allergy is
not really an allergy, but
rather an intolerance to a
certain food. A food intolerance
does not involve the immune
system. A person with a
food intolerance can eat small
amounts of the food with only
mild symptoms, such as indigestion,
rather than a severe
reaction with a true allergy.
Allergy symptoms are a result of a person’s immune
system overreacting to something that
is harmless to most people but sparks a reaction
in people sensitive to the trigger. Some symptoms
of allergic reactions, such as sneezing, are
widely known. But people may be surprised to discover
some of the other common allergy symptoms.
According to the American College of Allergy,
Asthma, and Immunology, a host of physical symptoms
are indicative of allergic reactions:
Wheezing, shortness of breath
The College says that wheezing or shortness of
breath are telltale signs of asthma, but notes that
such symptoms also may be indicative of an allergic
reaction. It recommends people see an allergist
if they develop unexplained wheezing that keeps returning
or if the wheezing occurs alongside symptoms
like rapid breathing or diffi culty taking in air.
Wheezing that appears after a person is stung by an
insect, takes a medication, or eats something he or
she is allergic to is symptomatic of an allergic reaction
and requires immediate medical attention.
Cough
The appearance of a dry, persistent cough may
indicate an allergy. Coughs are often a byproduct of
a cold or fl u, but such coughs tend to taper off after
a few days. Chronic dry coughs that linger for more
than three weeks may indicate the presence of an
allergy. Allergy-related coughs may be more prevalent
during certain times of year or in certain environments.
The College notes that chronic dry cough
has been linked to allergies such as hay fever and
may indicate an allergy to pet dander, dust, pollen,
or mold.
Headache
Though few people associate headaches with allergies,
some headaches can be allergy-related.
According to the College, sinus headaches and
migraines have been linked to allergies. Sinus headaches
may be characterized by localized pain over
the sinus area and/or pain in the face that may or
may not be accompanied by a headache. A throbbing
pain on one side of the head indicates a migraine,
the symptoms of which may worsen when exposed
to light. Among the more painful allergy symptoms,
headaches should be discussed with an allergist.
Nausea and vomiting
Nausea and vomiting may be a byproduct of food
allergies. Seasonal allergies rarely, if ever, lead to
nausea or vomiting. However, when a person eats a
food he or she is allergic to, the immune system reacts
to this allergy in much the same way it does to
allergies like hay fever, releasing a chemical called
histamine. When a person is dealing with seasonal
allergies, the histamine his or her body releases
can cause sneezing, runny nose, or other symptoms
commonly associated with such allergies. But when
histamine is released to combat food allergies, it can
cause nausea and vomiting.
Allergies affect people in every corner of the
globe. Recognizing symptoms of allergies can help
people combat them more effectively.
Some symptoms of allergic reactions, such as sneezing,
are widely known. But people may be surprised to discover
some of the other common allergy symptoms.