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Peanut allergy
Last reviewed: 05.07.2025
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[ Causes of Peanut Allergy
An allergic reaction can develop when peanut proteins enter the bloodstream – a kind of allergen that the body’s immune defenses recognize as harmful and unnecessary.
About a quarter of percent of people have a pronounced reaction to some food products. The most common is the body's reaction to peanuts and products containing it. Such an allergy is usually not cured and haunts a person throughout life, and is more often detected in those people who have a history of allergic reactions to other food products or medications.
The essence of the occurrence of allergies lies in the development of sensitization of the body and the receipt of a response from the body's defenses to the repeated introduction of the allergen protein.
The main reasons for the appearance of a reaction in humans to peanuts have not yet been studied. However, there is a scientifically proven fact that some types of allergies can be inherited. More precisely, it is not the allergy itself that is inherited, but the predisposition to it. When a father or mother has a tendency to some allergic manifestations, the risk of the child adopting this tendency is 50%.
The reaction does not manifest itself when the allergen first enters the blood. Usually, repeated or even repeated introduction of it into the body is required until a sufficient amount of immunoglobulins is produced, which increase the body's sensitivity and provoke the development of allergic manifestations.
Peanut Allergy Symptoms
A true allergy to peanuts manifests itself in the form of skin rashes and Quincke's angioedema.
Dermatoses are accompanied by varying degrees of itching, burning of the skin, problems with appetite and sleep disorders.
Significant and continuous nasal discharge that makes normal breathing difficult indicates the development of allergic rhinitis. These symptoms may be accompanied by signs of bronchial asthma: cough, shortness of breath, pulmonary edema.
Less common are epigastric pains up to colic and increased sensitivity of joints. Diarrhea, flatulence, dizziness may occur.
Unfortunately, the clinical picture of peanut allergy often ends with the development of anaphylactic shock - an immediate reaction that can occur within a few seconds after the allergen enters the blood. The person suddenly turns pale, has difficulty breathing, there is a sudden local swelling of the body, a pressing pain in the chest, and disturbances of consciousness. In this condition, emergency medical care is required, since the probability of a fatal outcome with the development of anaphylactic shock can be up to 70%.
Diagnosis of Peanut Allergy
Before starting diagnostics, the doctor carefully studies the anamnesis and medical history, clarifies the presence of a hereditary factor, and identifies the clinical picture.
The necessary examinations include skin tests and a radioallergosorbent test, which are used to determine the specific cause of the allergy.
Skin testing is a test to detect an allergen, where the most likely types of allergens are introduced into the skin and a possible reaction is expected. If signs of allergic dermatitis appear, then the skin test can be considered positive.
Radioallergosorbent test – has a slightly lower level of information content and is carried out when it is impossible for some reason to use the skin test option.
A laboratory method, a blood sample is taken from the patient and the content of antibodies-immunoglobulins is determined. The suspected allergen is transferred to the blood taken from the patient using a sorbent. If the antibodies are formed specifically for this allergen, they interact and attach to the sorbent. This study requires some time, the result is known only after 1-2 weeks. The information content of this analysis is approximately 60-80%.
These are the most frequently used methods; precipitation type determination, agglutination reaction test and passive hemagglutination test are used much less frequently.
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Treatment for Peanut Allergy
Antiallergic therapy involves, first of all, eliminating the entry of a given allergen into the body by any means.
In severe allergic reactions and anaphylactic shock, epinephrine (adrenaline) is injected, which has pronounced bronchodilatory properties, prevents cardiac disorders and collapse. The state of anaphylaxis requires mandatory hospitalization to control the reversibility of impaired body functions. In especially severe cases, emergency medical care is provided.
Uncomplicated allergic reactions require the use of antihistamines, which inhibit the activity of antibodies and alleviate clinical symptoms. These are medications such as cetrin, fenistil, claritin, quamatel, parlazin, loratadine, ketotifen.
The use of steroid hormones allows for the rapid neutralization of the activity of nervous system mediators, relieves tissue swelling and reduces the severity of other manifestations of allergy. Ointments containing corticosteroid hormones are used in the treatment of allergic dermatoses.
The treatment is also supplemented by taking immune-boosting medications, vitamins, microelements, and probiotics.
Preventing Peanut Allergies
The main point of prevention and further favorable prognosis of allergic sensitivity of the body is the exclusion of peanuts, peanut butter and other products containing this allergen from food. In order to protect yourself from taking dangerous products, you must constantly carefully check the dishes you eat, inquire about their composition, read labels in stores. Particular caution should be exercised in public catering places, do not hesitate to ask the cook or waiter about the presence of peanuts among the ingredients. If you are not sure about the safety of some products, you should not eat them. This is especially true for various baked goods, ice cream, chocolate and confectionery products, sauces, dressings.
It is always necessary to be prepared for any unforeseen situations related to the appearance of symptoms of food allergies. In the first aid kit of every person suffering from any manifestations of hypersensitivity of the body, there should be suitable antihistamines, as well as emergency medical care drugs to prevent the development of anaphylactic shock. And otherwise - a healthy lifestyle, rational nutrition with an abundance of vegetables and fruits, hardening the body are the best preventive measures against allergies and for stimulating the immune forces of the body.
Having hypersensitivity to certain proteins in foods does not mean that you cannot live a full life.
While you may not be able to influence a diagnosis such as a peanut allergy, it is entirely possible to prevent the development of a food reaction.