Eight foods account for about 90 percent of all food allergies, according to the Food and Allergy Anaphylaxis Network. Peanuts are on that list. Peanut allergies are common in children, affecting 25 percent of kids with any kind of food allergy, according to a 2011 U.S. News and World Report article. Overall, about 4 percent of the adult population in the United States has a food allergy. A peanut allergy is among the most dangerous and can cause digestive problems including cramps and nausea.
About Food Allergies
There are eight primary food allergens: milk, eggs, fish, peanuts, shellfish, soy, tree nuts and wheat. A food allergy, unlike an intolerance, is characterized by the allergen triggering the body's immune system to attack itself. A peanut allergy is one of the most dangerous, according to the Food Allergy Initiative. Peanuts tend to cause the most serious reaction, called anaphylaxis. And unlike many other food allergens, a person can react to just trace amounts of peanuts present in food -- from airborne peanut particles touching another food to even coming into contact with dust from a shell. Getting a stomachache from eating peanuts is one of the most mild symptoms of the allergy and may even be considered an intolerance.
Symptoms
Some of the most common symptoms of a peanut allergy are hives; swelling, itching or tingling around the mouth and throat; tightening of the chest; difficulty breathing; runny or stuffy nose; as well as belly cramps and diarrhea. Anaphylaxis is a severe reaction that requires emergency treatment. It can constrict your airways causing breathing problems; force your throat to swell shut; result in a severe drop in blood pressure; cause a rapid pulse; trigger nausea, vomiting or diarrhea; induce dizziness, lightheadedness and even loss of consciousness.
Intolerance vs. Allergy
Sometimes it's hard to tell the difference between a food allergy and intolerance. The first triggers a reaction from the immune system, while the latter is a digestive system response. According to the MayoClinic.com, a peanut intolerance will only cause mild symptoms, like indigestion or heartburn. A true allergy will result in a more serious reaction. Medical testing by your doctor or an allergist is necessary to properly diagnose an allergy.
What to Do
There is no medication for a peanut allergy. Unlike other allergies, once you're allergic to peanuts, you're stuck with the allergy for life. KidsHealth suggests avoiding peanuts at all costs. That means not only avoiding eating nuts, but also avoiding recipes and thick sauces that contain peanut butter or have any kind of peanut base. Read ingredient labels before buying anything, especially baked goods. Look for phrases like "may contain nuts," "produced on shared equipment with nuts or peanuts," and "produced in a facility that also processes nuts."
References
- Food and Allergy Anaphylaxis Network; Allergens
- U.S. News and World Report; Children With Food Allergies Often Face Skepticism; Jenifer Goodwin; August 2011
- MayoClinic.com; Peanut Allergy Symptoms; April 2010
- American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology; Food Allergies
- Anaphylaxes Symptoms; September 2010
- MayoClinic.com; Peanut Allergy: Tests and Diagnoses; April 2010
