Parenting tricks have prevented 60,000 children from this allergy

Peanuts for prevention.

New research suggests that medical advice given a decade ago has successfully helped 60,000 children avoid this life-threatening allergy.

“I can come to you today and say that fewer children have food allergies today than they would have if we had not implemented this public health effort,” said Dr. David Hale, an allergist and researcher at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and author of a study published Monday in the journal Medical Sciences. pediatrics.

For years, doctors have recommended waiting until age 3 to introduce peanuts and other foods that are likely to cause allergies.

But in 2015, the Learning Early Learning About Peanut Allergy (LEAP) trial found that introducing peanut products in childhood reduces the risk of allergy by more than 80%.

Additional research has demonstrated that in 70% of children, this protective function persists into adolescence.

According to these results, National Institutes of Health Reversing their advice on peanuts, parents were asked to introduce foods containing peanuts into the diet of babies aged 4 to 6 months in the hope of reducing the risk of allergy.

And it seems the advice was right on the money, or chance as it were.

In this latest study, Hill and his team analyzed the health records of dozens of pediatricians to track and diagnose food allergies in children before, during, and after the introduction of current guidelines.

The team found that peanut allergies in children 3 years of age or younger decreased by more than 27% after the guidance for children at highest risk was issued in 2015 and by more than 40% after the recommendations were expanded in 2017.

“Our findings have significance, from those of us who treat patients to those who care for infants, and more awareness, education, and advocacy could increase the positive outcomes we observed in this study,” Hill said.

“Future studies will likely explore specific feeding practices that help us better understand the timing, frequency and dosage of foods that improve protection against food allergies.”

More than six million people in the United States have it Allergy to peanutsAccording to Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE).

Peanut allergy develops when The immune system reacts To the major proteins found in peanuts as if they were harmful invaders. The immune system fights the proteins, leading to a wide range of symptoms that can affect multiple body systems, including the skin, digestive, respiratory, or cardiovascular systems.

Symptoms can include hives. Skin redness or swelling. Itching or tingling in the throat or mouth. runny nose; Red and watery eyes. Swelling of the tongue and/or lips. Eye swelling Nasal congestion Stomach cramps and/or abdominal pain. diarrhea; Nausea or vomiting. Difficulty breathing and/or wheezing.

Peanut allergy is the most common allergy associated with anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction that may be life-threatening.

Although the LEAP experience has inspired new guidelines, putting them into practice has been slow, or difficult, if you will. Surveys found that only 29% of pediatricians and 65% of allergists reported following the expanded guidelines.

The directions say the peanut butter can be spread thinly, mixed with breast milk, formula, or pureed. Health officials warn that whole peanuts or chopped peanuts can cause choking hazards.

A recent study found Although parents are advised to give their infants peanuts, many are still concerned about exposing their children to the legume.

However, the new research provides “promising evidence that early introduction of allergens is not only approved, but may have a measurable effect,” the researchers concluded.

Hill and other experts recommend parents contact their pediatricians with any questions and concerns related to allergies and food introductions.