Managing peanut allergy

Abstract
A study examining the efficacy of food allergen avoidance in preventing atopic disease in infants defined as being at high risk for atopy found that of 185 control infants, 80% had been exposed to peanut products by their first birthday and 100% by their second birthday.1 Follow up at 7 years of age revealed that about 7% of high risk children had positive skin tests to peanut and 4% were felt to be reactive on the basis of history or oral food challenges.2 The prevalence of peanut allergy seems to have increased over the past two decades. In comparable groups of children referred to us for evaluation of severe atopic dermatitis and possible food allergy, peanut sensitisation (positive skin prick test) increased by 55% while allergic reactions increased …