When you have a peanut allergy your body mistakenly treats peanuts like an unwelcome intruder rather than a wholesome food. Common indicators of a peanut allergy include hives, eczema, redness or swelling on the face, cramps, nausea, diarrhea, congestion, watery eyes, dizziness, fainting or even anaphylaxis. The symptoms vary in severity. Some people have a mild reaction, where others may require hospitalization if they eat a single peanut.
Causes of a Reaction
Reactions to peanuts aren't always caused by eating one. Some people can have a skin reaction, such as hives, by simply touching a peanut. Others can experience a respiratory reaction from inhaling peanut particles or accidentally breathing in peanut oil cooking spray. Very sensitive people might experience a reaction from touching or ingesting a product that was handled in an area where peanuts or peanut products are processed. Eating a peanut or product made with peanuts is the most common cause of an allergic reaction, however.
Risk Factors for the Peanut Allergy
Experts don't know why some people develop peanut allergies and others do not. However, certain factors may put you more at risk for a peanut allergy. Children are more likely to experience food allergies in general, according to the Mayo Clinic. This may be because their digestive systems haven't fully matured. If you have other food allergies or a close family member with a peanut allergy, you are more at risk for developing a peanut allergy. In addition, if you suffer from eczema you may be more likely to develop food allergies, including peanut allergies.
Precautions
The precautions you need to take with a peanut allergy depend on how sensitive you are to peanuts and what triggers your reactions. Always read food labels and avoid foods with peanuts listed as an ingredient or that say, "May contain nuts." If you are highly sensitive to peanuts, avoid restaurants that serve items with peanuts. As of 2011, many states require that restaurants that handle peanuts place a warning on their door. If your child has a peanut allergy, talk with her school administrators and find out what they can do to reduce her risk of being exposed to peanuts.
Treatments
Talk with your physician about an appropriate treatment for your peanut allergy. Some people with mild peanut allergies can benefit from over-the-counter or prescription antihistamines to counteract their allergy symptoms. Other sufferers with more severe reactions may need to carry around an autoinjector, which is an emergency syringe that contains epinephrine. More treatments are under development. One study conducted in 2010 at Cambridge University indicated that some patients with even severe peanut allergies can increase their tolerance for peanuts by ingesting a very small portion of peanuts each day under a physician's careful supervision.
