Peanut Allergy: What You Need To Know

Peanut is one of the most common food allergens that can cause severe allergic reactions and become fatal. According to the

For decades, doses of the hormone epinephrine have been the preferred emergency treatment. However, recent advancements have brought upon the first oral immunotherapy drug for peanut allergy.

This article will discuss everything you need to know regarding peanut allergies, such as their causes, symptoms, and treatment.

What’s In The Article?

• What Is An Allergy?

• What Are the Causes And Symptoms Of Peanut Allergy?

• What Is Anaphylaxis?

• How To Treat Peanut Allergy?

• Epinephrine

• Oral Immunotherapy

• Final Thoughts

What Is An Allergy?

Allergies occur when the body identifies foreign substances, such as pet dander, pollen, bee venom, and food, as something harmful. The body reacts by releasing antibodies, which causes symptoms to appear.

Allergy-triggering substances, known as allergens, normally do not cause trouble to most people. However, an increasing number of children and adults develop allergies throughout their lives. In the US, peanuts are one of the most common food allergens in both kids and adults, alongside shellfish and milk.

What Are the Causes And Symptoms Of Peanut Allergy?

People with a peanut allergy can show signs and symptoms shortly after being exposed to the allergen. Since it’s a

Exposure to peanuts can happen in a variety of ways. These are:

• Direct Contact. Ingesting peanuts or having skin contact with nuts or any of their parts can trigger an allergic response.

• Inhalation. Inhaling aerosols or dust-containing peanuts can also cause an allergic reaction. Cooking sprays with peanut oil or peanut flour are likely culprits.

• Cross-contamination. This happens when food that does not normally contain peanuts or uses peanut products gets exposed to peanuts during production or handling.

Allergic responses occur rapidly after exposure, usually within minutes. Signs and symptoms can include one or more of the following:

• Swelling, redness, hives, and other skin reactions

• Wheezing or shortness of breath

• Tingling or itching around or in the mouth or throat

• Tightening of the throat

• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and other digestive problems

• Sneezing or runny nose

What Is Anaphylaxis?

Allergic responses can sometimes become severe and life-threatening. This is known as anaphylaxis and is considered a medical emergency. Anaphylactic reactions can include one or more of the following:

• Airway constriction

• Extreme swelling of the throat that may lead to impaired breathing

• A severe and sudden drop in blood pressure, also known as anaphylactic shock

• Rapid pulse

• Lightheadedness, dizziness, or loss of consciousness

No matter how mild, people who have had allergic reactions should talk to their physicians about it. Their doctor will educate them about

How To Treat Peanut Allergy?

Even with possible treatment options, the standard approach is preventing exposure. People with a peanut allergy, especially those who experience severe signs and symptoms, must be extremely careful when dining outside. It is also important to read food labels when purchasing packaged food or products that will touch the skin. However, cross-contact exposure exists. People can still accidentally expose themselves to peanuts, even with precautions. In such cases, the standard first aid treatment is epinephrine or adrenaline.

Epinephrine

Currently, epinephrine is the only effective treatment for severe allergic reactions. People with peanut allergies, especially severe ones, are always advised to carry an epinephrine autoinjector. In the US, brands of epinephrine autoinjectors include EpiPen, Adrenaclick, Auvi-Q, and more. Epinephrine works against anaphylaxis by reversing its effects. Epinephrine has vasoconstricting and bronchodilating properties, which counteracts hypotension and difficulty in breathing caused by anaphylaxis. An epinephrine autoinjector contains a single dose of the hormone. It is usually administered on the thigh muscle. While epinephrine has been proven effective against anaphylaxis, patients should still be advised to head to the emergency room for further monitoring even after receiving a dose. This is for people who might have protracted anaphylaxis, in which the allergic reactions last for hours or days, or biphasic anaphylaxis, in which symptoms recur hours or days after they have resolved.

Oral Immunotherapy

An alternative and emerging form of peanut allergy treatment is oral immunotherapy. Also known as desensitization, it is the practice of slowly exposing people with food allergies, ideally children, to their allergens. The doses of these allergens are increased over time to desensitize the body so as not to produce severe allergic reactions. However, oral immunotherapy is not a cure for food allergies and should not be advocated as such. One of the biggest advancements in food allergy medicine is the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval of the first oral immunotherapy drug for peanut allergy, called Palforzia (Peanut Allergen Powder-dnfp). It treats children aged 4-17 by having them ingest a controlled amount of peanut powder daily. However, Palforzia is not meant to be taken by those with eosinophilic esophagitis or uncontrolled asthma. Another emerging immunotherapy option is CNP-201, an investigational new drug (IND) containing biodegradable nanoparticles that contain purified peanut protein extracts. Unlike Palforzia, CNP-201 is meant to be administered via intravenous infusion. The FDA has recently approved its continuation into clinical trials to study its efficacy and safety.

Final Thoughts

Peanut is a common food allergen that affects millions of people worldwide. Though most people will experience mild allergic effects, some may experience severe symptoms that can ultimately lead to death. While preventing exposure is still the best practice, accidents happen. For these cases, it is best to be equipped with an epinephrine autoinjector at all times. A trip to the emergency room should follow right after. There is no cure for food allergies. However, advancements in treatment may lead to new drugs and therapies that will ultimately desensitize the body so it will no longer produce life-threatening symptoms. If successful, this can lead to a better quality of life for peanut and other food allergy sufferers in the future.