Excessively clean homes can give rise to peanut allergies in kids

13 November, 2012

We think that keeping our homes clean is the best way to keep our children safe from diseases and allergies. But a new research suggests that excessively clean homes can develop a life-threatening allergy for kids, known as peanut allergy.

THE STUDY was presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (ACAAI). The peanut allergy, which affects the immune system, is sharpest among the children of wealthy middle-class parents.

This allergy occurs when immune system wrongly identifies the peanut proteins as a harmful allergen and reacts against it. The exposure to peanuts can be through inhalation, direct contact or cross contact. The allergic response can be seen in minutes after the exposure.

The study was done on 8,306 patients, and 776 of them were already having some reactions to peanuts. The research concluded that it is usually higher in males than females and 20 percent of the food allergies developed by children are peanut allergies.

The symptoms of peanut allergies are itching or prickling in or around the mouth and throat, skin reactions, such as hives, redness or swelling, digestive problems, such as stomach cramps, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting, shortness of breath or wheezing, tightening of the throat and runny nose.

Anaphylaxis is the most common life threatening cause of peanut allergy. It is a medical allergy and requires medication like epinephrine injection. The symptoms of Anaphylaxis are swelling of the throat, constriction of airways, rapid pulse, a severe drop in blood pressure, lightheadedness, dizziness and loss of consciousness.

The factors that trigger the peanut allergy are past allergy to peanuts, age, family history of allergies and Atopic dermatitis. Some people think that food allergies are related with childhood hyperactivity, but there is no link between these two.

There is no specific treatment for peanut allergy, but desensitization is an option of treatment. The only way by which you can avoid the allergy is avoiding peanuts and products related to it. For minor allergic reactions you can use antihistamines, reported Mayoclinic.