Peanut Allergy:
A Guide for Teens
Peanut allergies have been getting a lot of attention lately. You may be surprised to learn that 0.5%-1% of Americans has a peanut allergy, and this number is on the rise. Some school classrooms and lunchrooms are now peanut-free. This guide was created to help you understand what a peanut allergy is, how to recognize the symptoms, and how to prevent allergic reactions if you have a peanut allergy.
What causes allergies to foods like peanuts?
A food allergy happens when your immune system mistakes a particular food for a harmful substance. When a person has a peanut allergy, the body's immune system responds to one or more of the proteins found in peanuts. These proteins are found in both raw and cooked peanuts, as well as some peanut oils. Anyone can develop a peanut allergy, but it is more common in people who have food allergies, asthma, eczema, or hay fever (or a family history of these conditions).
Why do peanut allergies get special attention?
Peanut allergies are getting special attention because people with severe peanut allergies can have a life-threatening reaction from even casual contact with peanuts or peanut-containing products. This means that a person who is extremely sensitive to peanuts doesn’t have to eat a peanut to have an allergic reaction!
For example, a person with severe peanut allergy could have a reaction from:
Because of the many ways a strongly allergic person can come into contact with peanuts, it takes careful planning to maintain a peanut-safe life.
It is important to keep in mind that most people with peanut allergy are not this sensitive. Usually avoiding foods that are made with peanut ingredients or manufactured on equipment that handles peanuts is all you need to do to prevent an allergic reaction.
What are the most common symptoms of peanut allergy?
Common signs of an allergic reaction to peanuts, which can range from mild to severe, are:
What is a serious reaction called?
The most serious reaction to a peanut allergy is called anaphylaxis (an-uh-fa-lak-sis). Anaphylaxis happens suddenly and involves dangerous changes to your breathing, heart rate, and other body functions. Anaphylaxis also occurs when several different symptoms occur together, such as getting a rash and wheezing, or stomach pain and swelling of the throat. Anaphylaxis usually happens within seconds to minutes of exposure to an allergen and is life-threatening without emergency medical treatment.
If you or someone you know experiences anaphylaxis after coming into contact with a peanut product, use the EpiPen® injector and call 911 right away! Because anaphylaxis to peanuts is unpredictable and potentially life-threatening, you must always carry your EpiPen® with you. |
People with a peanut allergy should have a treatment plan ready in case of an allergic reaction and should make sure their teachers and friends know what to do in the case of an emergency. All people with peanut allergies carry an autoinjector device loaded with an emergency medication called epinephrine that can be used to treat anaphylaxis as soon as symptoms set in. This device is called an “EpiPen®” or Twinject®, and must be prescribed by a health care provider. Instructions for using an EpiPen® can be found at: epipen.com/howtouse.aspx.
Have the EpiPen® or Twinject® with you at all times, it can save your life! |
What is the treatment for peanut allergy?
There is no cure for peanut allergy. Avoiding peanuts and foods that contain peanuts is the only way to prevent this problem. Most people with peanut allergy have the allergy for life, but 20% of young people do outgrow it. If years have passed since your last allergic reaction, your doctor may repeat peanut allergy testing and if it is negative, he or she may suggest a food challenge. A food challenge is done at a hospital or doctor’s office (NEVER at home), and involves giving a person with peanut allergy a small amount of peanuts while a health care provider watches for symptoms of an allergic reaction. If no symptoms appear, that person may have outgrown the allergy.
How do I know if a food has peanuts in it?
Certain foods (such as peanut butter, mixed nuts, and some candy bars) are obvious sources of peanuts, but some foods that contain trace amounts of peanuts aren’t as easy to spot. Peanuts may be found in baked goods, crackers, sauces, pesto, Asian foods, veggie burgers, nougat, chocolate, ice cream, cereal, granola, Worcestershire sauce, and bouillon. Luckily, it is a requirement that the Nutrition Facts label on all packaged foods must list if a food contains a common allergen like peanuts. You can also double check that a food is safe by reviewing the ingredient list on the food label.
Make sure that it does not have any of the following peanut-containing ingredients:
| Arachis oil | Natural flavorings |
| Artificial nuts | Peanuts |
| Beer nuts | Peanut butter |
| Gianduja | Peanut extracts |
| Goobers | Peanut flour |
| Ground nuts | Peanut oil |
| Hydrolyzed plant protein | Peanut sprout |
| Hydrolyzed vegetable proteins (HVP) | Peanut starch |
| Loramine wax | Peanutamide |
| Lupine Flour | Plant protein |
| Mandelonas (peanuts soaked in almond flavor) | Satay flavor |
| Mixed nuts | Satay sauce |
| Monkey nuts | Textured vegetable protein |
Unfortunately, restaurant foods, bakery items, and foods prepared by other people don’t have labels. When eating out, always ask if anything on the menu contains peanuts or if anything is prepared with peanut oil or a sauce that might contains nuts. Avoid items that have unknown ingredients.
If you have an allergy to peanuts, you know that it can be scary when you come in contact with peanuts, peanut oil, or other peanut ingredients. Having a peanut-safe life is possible by learning what foods you can and cannot eat . This will help prevent mild symptoms to serious reactions such as anaphylaxis. Tell your friends, teachers, and others that you spend time with that you have peanut allergy, just in case you ever need their help. |
Websites
Books
The Peanut Allergy Answer Book 2nd Edition by
Fair Winds Press, 2006
Updated: 4/30/2008
Related Information:
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