If you experience stomach pain after eating peanuts, a number of factors could be to blame. Some basic information on the topic can guide your understanding of stomach pain caused by peanuts, but your doctor should remain your primary source for diagnosis and treatment. In some instances, stomach pain is the result of a very serious food allergy, so you want to schedule a doctor's visit as soon as possible to rule out any potential allergic issues.
Causes
A temporary condition called "aerophagia" occurs when you eat rapidly. When you eat too quickly, air gets swallowed and trapped in your stomach and intestines, according to the Ohio State University Medical Center. Though pain is not always a symptom of aerophagia, some people experience pain and discomfort after swallowing air. If your pain occurred in just one or two instances of eating peanuts, the pain may not be specific to peanut consumption, and general aerophagia is the culprit. Regular, consistent pain after eating peanuts is indicative of a peanut intolerance or allergy.
Other Symptoms
If your stomach pain after eating peanuts is truly benign aerophagia, you will experience bloating alongside your pain. This is relieved by belching or passing gas. Food intolerance commonly involves nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or cramps. Food allergies will trigger similar symptoms, but you can also expect itchy skin, hives, a metallic taste, nasal congestion or dizziness, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Tests
To test for peanut intolerance or allergies, your doctor can employ a number of tests. Food allergies are passed on genetically, so your doctor may render a diagnosis based on family history. According to the University of Missouri, physicians also use a "food elimination trial" to determine the source of your stomach pain after eating. During the trial, you will remove peanuts from your diet to see if this relieves your symptoms. If you still experience pain after eating, then the peanuts are not actually the cause of the gastrointestinal disturbance. Blood tests and skin tests are also used to diagnosis peanut allergies.
Treatment
For aerophagia, make a concerted effort to eat peanuts slowly. If you have a confirmed peanut intolerance of allergy, avoid eating peanut products altogether. Antihistamines can also relieve mild symptoms if you accidentally expose yourself to peanuts. With severe allergies, skin contact or peanut ingestion can trigger anaphylactic shock. Anaphylactic shock causes labored breathing, difficulty swallowing, and lightheadedness. To combat anaphylatic shock, a syringe of epinephrine is injected into the bloodstream, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Warnings
If your experience pain after eating peanuts, chances are the problem is a minor intolerance or aerophagia. Do not overreact and stress out, but also do not ignore the problem. While most peanut problems are manageable, anaphylactic shock caused by severe peanut allergies can be fatal. If you suspect a peanut allergy, see your doctor immediately for treatment. Most allergies are not fatal, but you don't want to take any chances with your health.
