Sponsored Links
K9 Southern Star Ranch

Peanut Allergy Prevention

Peanut allergy prevention can be considered from two perspectives: preventing a peanut allergy from developing in pregnant women, and preventing an allergic reaction in those with a peanut allergy.

While it may not be possible to completely prevent a peanut allergy from developing in infants, there are measures that can be taken to reduce the risk.

For those who are especially vulnerable to a severe anaphylactic reaction, a portable autojector might be a good idea.

Peanut Detector Dogs

A Peanut Detector Dog is a valuable tool for a person with an allergy to peanuts. Since a dog’s sense of smell far surpasses that of humans, detection of odors is a perfect job for these dogs. Our Peanut Dogs, undergo extensive training, are easily able to detect minute quantities of peanuts in any form; raw, cooked, oil, butter, dust, etc. Click here for more information.

During pregnancy

Women with allergies or with a family history of allergies (hay fever, asthma, eczema–in short, any atopic disease), or in situations where the biological father or his immediate family has a history of allergies, are typically advised to avoid all peanut products during their pregnancy and during the breastfeeding stage.

Infants

Mothers should breast feed their infants for at least four to six months if possible, since breast milk is much less likely to produce an allergic reaction and can strengthen the child's immune system.

Infants not being breast fed or fed with breast milk should be fed partially pre-digested, protein hydrolysate formulas such as Alimentum or Nutramigen rather than milk- or soy-based formulas.

When infants are six to 12 months old, vegetables, rice, meat, and fruit can be introduced to their diets. Each food should be introduced one at a time so parents or caregivers can identify and eliminate any foods that cause a reaction. At age three, fish and peanuts may be introduced.

Long term, scientists are working to develop genetically altered plants that produce non-allergy-causing peanuts. Another potential prevention option is to identify the biological markers of the disease that occur in people who experience anaphylaxis and these could provide a possible genetic test for predicting the disease and its severity.

Peanut Allergic Children

The Mayo Clinic makes the following recommendations to parents to safeguard their children from suffering an allergic reaction.

  1. Be sure to read food labels carefully, and avoid foods that may have come in contact with peanuts. Manufactured foods are required to clearly state whether foods contain any peanuts, and if they were produced in factories that also process peanuts.
  2. If you've already had a severe reaction to peanuts, wear a medical alert bracelet or necklace and consider the use of adhesive allergy labels.
  3. Talk with your doctor about carrying emergency medications.

Additional Suggestions

Teach your child to ask for help. Make certain that your child knows how to tell others about his or her peanut allergy and to ask for immediate help if they believe they might be having an allergic reaction.

Discourage your child from sharing foods. It is not unlike children to accept or swap food at school or elsewhere, so it is best to discourage your child against such a practice since the presence of peanuts or peanut products is not always obvious, and children may forget.

ID labels can be a helpful tool when children are away from home. They can be applied to clothing, lunch boxes, etc., as a means of notifying others about an allergy and can take some of the pressure off of active youngsters.

allergy labels
 

Adults

Learn to read the labels on all the foods you eat, and learn the subtle ways peanut products wind up in food one might not expect them to be in. See our peanut foods resource page for more information.

Wearing an ID bracelet that specifies your name, peanut allergy, doctor's name, and emergency contact number is highly recommended.

Finally, if your doctor believes it is necessary, he can prescribe you emergency medication–injectable epinephrine–that you can carry with you at all times in the event of an emergency. Take In Case™ makes it easy for active children and adults to carry an autoinjector at all times.

Resources

Take In Case
Take In Case™ presents a solution for carrying an EpiPen® Auto-Injector when you are on the go. Take In Case ™ keeps you prepared when you need it the most. Complete details...

Sponsored Links

disclaimer

The information provided on PeanutAllergy.com is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between a patient/site visitor and his/her health professional. This information is solely for informational and educational purposes and we encourage all visitors to see a licensed physician if they believe that they have an eating disorder. The publication of this information does not constitute the practice of medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Neither the owners or employees of PeanutAllergy.com nor the author(s) of site content take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of medication which results from reading this site. Always speak with your primary health care provider before engaging in any form of self treatment. Please see our Legal Statement for further information.

Sponsored Links
Poll
What's the hardest peanut-free product to find in your neighborhood?:
User login
New Forum Topics
Manufacturers, Food - Safe and Unsafe - Thomas's bagels

Manufacturers, Food - Safe and Unsafe - French's Fried Onions

Manufacturers, Food - Safe and Unsafe - safe pasta and sauces

Manufacturers, Food - Safe and Unsafe - General Mills cereals

Manufacturers, Food - Safe and Unsafe - Jelly Belly Jelly Beans - are these safe now?

Peanut Allergy News
Latest Peanut Allergy Blogs
Did You Know?

Peanut Allergy is the most prevalent food allergy in the US, where as many as 1.5 million people suffer from the disease (American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology). Peanut Allergy is the most common cause of food related death (Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America).

More Statistics...

peanutti