Baby Peanut Allergy Reaction | Symptoms | Diagnosis | Treatment | Research

baby peanut allergy reaction

Baby Peanut Allergy Reaction

Baby peanut allergy is a food allergy that occurs when a mother eats peanuts during pregnancy or breast-feeds her child. A child with a peanut allergy will react to peanuts the first time they are exposed. Baby peanut allergy reaction can be life threatening and occurs in about 1 of every 10,000 babies born in the U.S. Fortunately, the allergy can be treated with the proper care and precautions in order to prevent any serious medical complications.

Peanut allergy is caused by a reaction to proteins found in peanuts. Click To Tweet

A food allergy is an immune system reaction to certain foods, with symptoms that may include anything from a mild rash or stomach cramps to a life-threatening anaphylactic reaction. Food allergies are serious and affect an estimated 4-6% of children in the United States.

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baby peanut allergy reaction

Signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction to peanut

Peanut allergy is usually diagnosed in children under age 5. It is more common in boys than girls. The most severe reactions generally occur in children under age 3. There are some signs and symptoms of baby peanut allergy reaction. Some are common symptoms and some are appeared in the severe cases.

Common Symptoms of peanut allergy reaction in babies

Peanut allergies start early in life, usually within the first year of life. A child with a peanut allergy will react to peanuts the first time they are exposed or they will have a delayed reaction the first time they are exposed. Some common symptoms of peanut allergy are included here:

  • Skin reactions (hives)
  • Redness or swelling around the mouth or skin
  • Puffiness around the eyes
  • Itching around the mouth, tongue and throat
  • Diarrhea, and stomach cramps
  • Vomiting or diarrhea
  • Shortness of breath or wheezing
  • Runny nose or stuffy nose
  • Itchiness of the nose
  • Swelling of lips

baby peanut allergy reaction

Severe symptoms due to Anaphylaxis 

Peanut allergies are one of the most common food allergies. Around 1% of adults and 3% of children are allergic to peanuts. Peanuts are one of the most commonly used foods to trigger anaphylaxis with baby peanut allergy reaction.

  • Swelling of the tongue and/or throat
  • Difficulty in swallowing or
  • Constriction of airways
  • Difficulty in  speaking
  • Change in the voice specially hoarse voice
  • Whistling noise
  • sudden sleepiness in babies
  • Persistent cough
  • A severe drop in blood pressure (shock)
  • Rapid pulse
  • Noisy breathing
  • Dizziness
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Sudden sleepiness in babies
Severity of reaction and treatment for peanut allergy vary depending on the type of allergy. Click To Tweet

Baby peanut allergy reaction time

Baby peanut allergy reaction time is 2-4 hours. Immediately after eating or touching food, the reaction can also occur. Some cases, the reaction time is not identified due to delayed reactions.

 

Severity of baby peanut allergy reaction

A steady increase in the severity of peanut allergy reactions is cause for concern. A recent study of nearly a thousand children with peanut allergies showed that the severity of reactions has increased over the last 12 years.

 

In the study, researchers examined the medical records of 928 children with peanut allergies. They found that the percentage of children with life-threatening reactions to peanuts increased from 5.4% to 7.2% between 1997 and 2010. The rate of severe reactions also increased, from 3.3% to 5.1% over the same time period.

Diagnosis of peanut allergy in babies

A pediatrician can diagnose peanut allergy in babies via a skin prick test, blood test, or a combination of both. The overall diagnosis system of  “baby peanut allergy reaction”  is described here:

Skin prick test: A small amount of peanut protein is placed on baby’s skin and if it causes a small red bump to appear within 15 minutes, this usually means that baby has developed a peanut allergy. This is a quick and easy test to perform.

Blood test: A blood sample is taken from the baby for analysis. The blood test is slower and more complicated than the skin prick test. The blood test is usually performed after a skin prick test to confirm the results of the skin prick test.

Combination of the two tests: In some cases, a combination of the two tests is performed. This is because in some cases, a positive skin prick test doesn’t mean that the child has developed a peanut allergy. The blood test is performed to confirm the results of the skin prick test.

The results of the skin prick test or blood test can help doctors to determine if the child is at high risk of peanut allergy and to develop a treatment plan. A positive skin prick test doesn’t necessarily mean that the child has developed a peanut allergy.

Baby peanut allergy treatment:

The treatment plan in the case of peanut allergy can be as simple as avoiding peanuts from the time that the child is diagnosed until the child is outgrown their peanut allergy.

Oral anti-allergy drugs for baby peanut allergy reaction

In some cases, the doctor may prescribe a drug called oral anti-allergy drugs. These drugs can prevent the body from producing an allergic reaction to peanuts by preventing the body from releasing the chemicals that can cause an allergic reaction to peanuts.

 

Prevention of peanut allergy in baby

A recent study may have found a way to prevent peanut allergy in babies. The study was conducted on infants who were at high risk of developing peanut allergy because they were allergic to eggs.

In the study, half of the babies were given small amounts of peanut protein every day for three to 11 months. These babies were then compared to a control group of babies who were not fed peanut protein.

The results showed that these babies developed peanut allergy at a rate of 17%, while the control group had a peanut allergy rate of 81%. This shows that early exposure to peanuts may prevent the development of peanut allergy.

 

Research About “Baby peanut allergy reaction”

For many years, researchers have known that there was a correlation between mothers eating peanuts while pregnant and their children developing a peanut allergy. But, it wasn’t until recently that researchers discovered why this was the case. They researched on it – “baby peanut allergy reaction”.

Peanut allergies are caused by a protein called peanut allergen 8 (PA8). PA8 is transferred from the mother to the baby during pregnancy.

Another reason for the cause of peanut allergy in babies is if they are born to a mother who has allergies to peanuts. Research shows that if the mother has allergies to peanuts, there is a 4.4% chance that their child will be born with a peanut allergy.

This is because the mother’s body produces antibodies against peanuts. Antibodies are proteins that are produced by the body to help fight against viruses and bacteria. Unfortunately, antibodies are not always perfect. They sometimes mistake things for the bacteria or virus and attack them.

This is what happens with peanut allergies. The mother’s body creates antibodies that attack peanuts. These antibodies are passed to the baby in the womb, causing their immune system to be triggered.

Outcome of Research on  “Baby peanut allergy reaction”

Researchers also found that the rate of severe reactions increased among children with milder reactions and high levels of peanut sensitivity. They have given a conclusion on Baby peanut allergy reaction.

They concluded that the increase in the severity of peanut allergy reactions is most likely due to an increase in the severity of reactions in children with milder allergies.

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