The only instance where eating peanut butter would cause seizures is if you have a severe allergy to peanuts. Most peanut allergies develop during early childhood and may last throughout your lifetime. The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network states that from 1997 to 2002, peanut allergies doubled in kids. While some people may only develop minor allergy symptoms after eating peanut butter, if you are severely allergic, you can experience life-threatening symptoms and seizures.
Peanut Allergy
A peanut allergy develops when your immune system accidentally mistakes the proteins in peanuts as a dangerous substance. This mistake causes the body to defend itself by creating various chemicals to fight off the proteins. Unlike other food allergies, a peanut allergy may get triggered in different ways, aside from consuming the food. If you are allergic to peanuts, touching peanut butter or inhaling airborne particles can cause an allergic reaction. Peanut by-products are difficult to avoid because they are used in a wide range of products and may cross-contaminate foods that naturally do not contain any peanut proteins.
Seizures
A seizure that only occurs after you or your child consumes peanut butter is a sign of an anaphylactic reaction. Anaphylaxis is an extreme allergic reaction that affects your entire body. During anaphylaxis excessive amounts of immunoglobulin E antibodies, histamine and other allergy-fighting chemicals are released that cause inflammation to occur throughout your body. Aside from seizures, you may also develop shortness of breath, wheezing, chest pain, abdominal pain, facial swelling, itching, hives, lightheadedness, dizziness and an increase in heart rate, according to MayoClinic.com.
Treatment
The most effective treatment for a severe peanut allergy is to avoid all foods that contain peanuts or could have potentially come into indirect contact with peanut proteins. While some sources are obvious, such as peanut butter, other sources are not as overt. Peanuts may be used to make egg rolls, potato pancakes, pudding, hot chocolate, cookies, pizzas and some meat substitutes, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. The FDA requires that all foods that contain or have been processed on shared equipment place an allergy warning on the product.
Epinephrine
If you or your child has a severe allergy to peanuts, you will be prescribed a epinephrine pen. This device is intended for use during anaphylaxis to alleviate the symptoms. Epinephrine needs to be injected into your body at the first sign of an allergic reaction to prevent seizures and other life-threatening symptoms.
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