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Peanut Allergies: What Every Parent and Others Should Know

By Amy Powell Eskey, M.A.

All parents know that raising children is not easy. It is especially challenging when a child has any health concern, such as a serious food allergy. Peanut allergies are one of the most common food allergies, and pose serious threats to sensitive individuals. Parents of children with peanut allergies are very aware of the extra stress levels that accompany every social situation that the child faces, since get-togethers often mean food, and the wrong kind of food can cause real harm. The purpose of this article is, therefore, to educate parents and the public about peanut allergy facts, as well as to offer general precautions that should be heeded to ensure that all allergic children are in safe food environments.

Facts about Peanut Allergies

• A peanut allergy is a response by the body's immune system to the proteins found in peanuts. Peanuts are not actually nuts, but are instead part of the legume family (which also includes peas, beans, and lentils).
• An allergic response is most often triggered by eating the proteins in peanut products, but can also be caused by touching or inhaling the proteins.
• The only "cure" is to completely remove peanut products from the diet.
• Symptoms of a peanut allergy often include swelling of the tongue and throat, hives, itchiness, redness, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain. Some individuals go into anaphylactic shock, which includes difficulty breathing and a drop in blood pressure. If not treated immediately, anaphylactic shock can result in death. Symptoms typically appear within minutes to a few hours after coming in contact with the peanut protein.

According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology:

• Approximately 150 people die each year in the United States due to food-related anaphylactic shock.
• About 3 million people in the United States or 1.1 percent of the population) suffer from peanut and/or tree nut (e.g. almond, cashew, walnut) allergies.
• Although many food allergies are outgrown, the vast majority of people with peanut allergies will never outgrow them.

Precautions We Can Take to Keep Kids Safe

Due to the prevalence of peanut allergies and the associated grave consequences, it is important for all of us to know what precautions we can take to minimize the likelihood of a child having an allergic episode. Whether you are hosting a holiday party, coordinating a classroom event, celebrating a birthday, or inviting a family over for dinner, if you know that a child has a peanut allergy, there are some simple guidelines that are wise to keep in mind. If you are not aware of any allergic children, it is always a good idea to inquire in advance whether any of them have a food allergy.

Like many parenting challenges, it is often difficult (if not impossible) to anticipate every peanut allergy precaution without first having to deal with it on a daily basis. That is why the advice of parents with children who have a severe peanut allergy can be so helpful for the rest of us. Gretchen Rauer is one of those parents. She is a Boise mother who is raising her 3-year-old daughter with a severe allergy to peanuts. After a trip to the emergency room with her daughter due to contact with peanut products, Gretchen carries an epinephrine shot with her at all times. (Epinephrine helps to reverse the breathing problems associated with anaphylactic shock). Below are some guidelines that Gretchen suggests people keep in mind when an allergic child and food are at the same event.

• Keep Labels. If the parent of the allergic child will also be at the event, showing them the food labels allows them to ultimately decide whether the food is safe or not. This takes the responsibility off you and puts it on them, allowing everyone to feel more at ease.
• If you don't know, don't guess. If you are unsure whether an ingredient contains peanut proteins, don't venture a guess. It is too risky. Some ingredients do contain peanut proteins, and from their names, one would never know. For example, hydrolyzed plant protein, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, and arachis oil contain potentially dangerous peanut proteins.
• Be flexible and avoid spontaneity. If you are going out to eat with a child with a peanut allergy, flexibility with the restaurant and menu items chosen is essential. Families with allergic kids often have a mental checklist of safe restaurants as well as safe menu choices. Asian restaurants, for example, use lots of peanut ingredients, so they often need to be avoided. Letting the family with the allergic child be part of the planning process reduces the stress of a potentially unsafe environment.
• Have kids wash hands after eating. If some children are eating peanut products in the vicinity of allergic children, making sure that everyone has clean hands will reduce the chances of peanut butter smears on playground equipment, toys, etc.
• Be patient with the parents. Parents of allergic children are not automatically experts at their child's allergy. It is a constant learning process which includes erring on the side of caution. Also, keep in mind that parents of an allergic child cannot completely disengage from what their child and every other person is eating. They need to at least occasionally scan the room for any possible food perils. If you would like a parent's full attention, you need to invite them to an event without children.

Gretchen Rauer seeks the advice and support of Dr. Michael Keiley for her daughter's peanut allergy. Dr. Keiley is an Adult and Pediatric Allergist and Immunologist who works at the Boise Valley Asthma and Allergy Clinic. He says, "Peanut allergies need to be taken very seriously, and if you suspect a reaction to peanuts, it is important to let your clinician know." For parents of allergic children, becoming educated about the issue and being prepared can reduce both the general worry and the chances of an allergic episode. For those of us who do not have peanut-sensitive children, understanding the potentially serious consequences of an allergic reaction and taking preventive measures is compassionate and cooperative. Most important, our actions can help to create a safe environment for all children.

Peanut Allergy Resources

More information on peanut allergies can be found by visiting AllergyHealthOnline at www.allergy.healthcentersonline.com or the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology at www.aaaai.org. If you are interested in being part of a local parent allergy support group, please contact Gretchen Rauer at mmgrauer@cableone.net to inform her of your interest.

Amy Powell Eskey, M.A. is a local writer and mother. After learning more about peanut allergies when researching for this article, she will take many more precautions when socializing with people who are sensitive to peanuts.

This article originally appeared in Treasure Valley Family Magazine, April 2006 and is used with permission from the author.