[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2017\/08\/peanut-allergy-guidelines-for-infants\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2017\/08\/peanut-allergy-guidelines-for-infants\/","headline":"New Peanut Allergy Guidelines for Infants","name":"New Peanut Allergy Guidelines for Infants","description":"Your baby may not be showing signs of teeth yet, but it\u2019s not too early to discuss the new peanut allergy guidelines with your pediatrician.","datePublished":"2017-08-04","dateModified":"2021-10-01","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/campaigns\/southcentral-pa","name":"UPMC Harrisburg","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/campaigns\/southcentral-pa","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/upmc-harrisburg\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/peanut-allergy-guidelines-for-infants.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/peanut-allergy-guidelines-for-infants.jpg","height":325,"width":754},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2017\/08\/peanut-allergy-guidelines-for-infants\/","about":["Living and Wellness","Pediatrics"],"wordCount":878,"keywords":["Pinnacle Health"],"articleBody":"Featuring Kathleen Zimmerman, MDYour baby may not be showing signs of teeth yet, but it\u2019s not too early to discuss the new peanut allergy guidelines with your pediatrician. New studies are finding that introducing peanuts to infants earlier actually helps prevent allergies.Previously, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommended that children younger than 3 with risks such as eczema and\/or food allergies (with or without a family history of food allergy) should avoid peanut products.That\u2019s now changed. The AAP is now recommending that infants between the ages of 4-6 months should be introduced to peanut-containing foods in age-appropriate snacks. (See the guidelines below.) In fact, a clinical trial out of UK(1) tested this recommendation on high-risk infants ages 4-11 months who were followed until age 5.The trial demonstrated that consumption of a peanut-containing snack by those at risk for developing the allergy prevents the development of the allergy itself. And there\u2019s more od news. Infants who are fed peanut products to prevent nut allergies do not experience shortened breastfeeding or harm to their growth.Understanding a Peanut AllergySo, what happens if a peanut allergy\u00a0is present? Basically the body falsely identifies peanuts as harmful ingredients, leading the immune system to overreact. An allergic, even life-threatening reaction, can follow.An\u00a0allergic reaction\u00a0releases chemicals, including\u00a0histamine, into your\u00a0blood. These chemicals can affect different tissues in the body, such as the\u00a0skin,\u00a0eyes, nose, airways,\u00a0intestinal tract,\u00a0lungs and\u00a0blood\u00a0vessels.For a mild reaction, an\u00a0antihistamine will do the trick. For a severe reaction or known allergy, the doctor may prescribe medicine known as epinephrine.New Guidelines for Peanut AllergiesThe new AAP recommendations are as follows:If an infant has severe eczema or an egg allergy, they should have a blood test to determine a peanut allergy. If positive, they should have a peanut-containing snack at 4-6 months, only while observed in a doctor\u2019s office. If the blood test is negative, they should follow the same directions, but the child does not have to do so under a doctor\u2019s supervision.Severe eczema\u00a0is defined as persistent or frequently recurring eczema, assessed as severe by a health care provider and requiring frequent need for prescription-strength topical corticosteroids, calcineurin inhibitors or other anti-inflammatory agents despite appropriate use of emollients.Egg allergy\u00a0is defined as a history of an allergic reaction to egg and a skin prick test.If an infant has mild to moderate eczema then no test is needed and they should start peanut-containing products at 4-6 months.If there is no eczema or other food allergy present, then the recommendation is to start peanut-containing products at 6 months or later as a toddler.You may ask yourself how it makes sense to introduce a product that your child tests positive for developing a potential allergy or already is at risk. The best way to describe the thought process is by comparing it to a vaccine. Immunizations protect us from disease and illness because we are exposing our systems to the \u201cdead\u201d or inactive virus in the form of a vaccination. The immune system kicks into high gear and produces antibodies that fight the germ. This exposure builds an immunity or shield should it encounter the live version.Recognizing Allergy SymptomsIf your child is past the infant stage and you\u2019re still not sure if he or she has a peanut allergy, speak with your pediatrician. Common peanut allergy signs and symptoms can include(2):Runny noseSkin reactions (hives, redness or swelling)Itching or tingling in or around mouth\/throatDigestive problems like diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea or vomitingTightening of the throatShortness of breath or wheezingSymptoms can start minutes from exposure either by ingesting the food or from cross-contamination and skin contact. If someone used a utensil that touched peanut products and didn\u2019t wash it for use in another food item, there can be trace amounts of peanut products in the non-peanut item causing an allergic reaction.A life-threatening allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis can occur and peanuts are one of the most common causes. This is an emergency situation and 911 should be called immediately. During an anaphylactic attack, the following can happen:Swelling of the throat that makes it hard to breatheDizziness\u00a0or\u00a0faintingA big drop in\u00a0blood pressureA rapid\u00a0pulseBlocked airwaysLiving with a Peanut AllergyIf your child has a known peanut allergy, there are ways to protect them from becoming sick or having a reaction. Whether at school, a birthday party or grandma\u2019s house, children eventually come into contact with a peanut butter, nut powder or other product containing peanuts. You should always inform all caregivers from relatives and the school, to those parents with whom your child may keep company. Pack alternate snacks and ask ahead of time if peanut products will be accessible.Keep in mind, nearly 20 percent of peanut allergies can be outgrown and only 4 percent of children have a food allergy. We can\u2019t put our children in a bubble, but we can remain informed and seek the necessary information from medical professionals to protect them. Preparation is better than paranoia.To find a pediatrician, please visit us at providers.upmc.com."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2017","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2017\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"08","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2017\/\/08\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"New Peanut Allergy Guidelines for Infants","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2017\/08\/peanut-allergy-guidelines-for-infants\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]