How to Cure Peanut Allergy
By: Paul FryattTotal Views: 226, Word Count: 746,
Peanut allergy is the most common and dangerous kind of food allergy. It is caused by peanut or any food that contains peanut in any form. How to cure peanut allergy is a major task because at times symptoms can become life threatening.
It is estimated that peanut allergy 0.4-0.6% of the population. It is more common in young children who outgrow it gradually as they grow. Death from peanut allergy is very rare but severe symptoms like anaphylaxis have caused fatality in few cases. Research reveals that peanut allergy can be found in children due to genetic reasons and gets cured by itself with age. How to cure peanut allergy is a cause of concern as there is a 2 fold increase in the cases of peanut allergies among Westernized nations.
Causes of peanut allergy
Peanut allergy is caused by the allergic proteins called vicilin and conglutin present in the peanut. Peanut allergy can be caused either by consuming peanut only, or by eating anything which has protein from peanut. The immunoglobulin in the body reacts to these proteins and produces histamine, which results in peanut allergy symptoms.
Symptoms of peanut allergy
The symptom of peanut reaction differs from person to person in intensity and nature. The four major areas affected by peanut allergy are – gastrointestinal system, cardiovascular system, skin, and respiratory system. The common symptoms of peanut allergy are:
- Skin Rashes
- Itchy Skin
- Eczema
- Redness and Swelling around the Mouth
- Belly Cramps
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Stuffy Nose
- Coughing and Wheezing
- Watery Eyes
- First stage of asthma
- Fainting
- Light headedness
In really bad cases the symptoms of peanut allergy can cause anaphylaxis when somebody’s airways can swell and blood pressure drop suddenly.
The only way to confirm peanut allergy is to go for a skin prick test. You can record the instances when allergic reaction occurred and the food that you had within two days of the reaction. Based on this history your doctor will ascertain whether you need to go for a food allergy test or not.
How to cure peanut allergy?
Like all food allergies there is no cure for peanut allergy. The American Peanut Council clearly states that there is no treatment for peanut allergy. The only cure is to prevent and avoid peanut and peanut based products.
In the most of the cases of peanut allergy it is seen that the person is also allergic to other tree nuts also.
In order to avoid the instances of peanut allergy one must avoid the following foods:
- Candy: Eat only those candies where the manufactures has clearly stated that no nut related product has been used.
- Ice Cream: Cross contamination is possible in ice cream parlor if the same scoop is used to take out a nut laden flavor.
- Sauces: Peanut sauce is commonly served in restaurants. Other sauces can also carry peanut.
- Cookies: Cookies and other baked goods contain nuts. It is wise to read label before buying.
Parents of children who are diagnosed with peanut allergy need to be extra careful. The school should be advised about the child’s case so that he does not eat anything containing peanut. How to cure peanut allergy is not known but the instances can definitely be avoided by careful eating habits.
About the Author
Allergist Paul Fryatt, M.D. has been in this profession from last 24 years. He made great achievements in his profession. He made an initiative to open a Family Allergy Clinic in 1985 to help his patients who were not reacting to traditional allergy treatment programs. Moreover he has explored the treatment to overcome allergy symptoms to reclaim quality of life through his convenient, no-shots therapy.
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