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About one and a half million Americans have severe allergies to peanuts – and 50 to 100 people die each year from those allergies.

Children with peanut allergies are particularly at risk for a life-threatening reaction.

Five-year-old Tiana came to the hospital after eating part of a muffin.

“She was making faces and said that her chest hurt,” says her mother, “and she said, ‘mommy I think this has nuts in it’ – and it was a banana-nut muffin.”

Tiana is allergic to peanuts. For some kids, exposure to even a few molecules of peanuts can create a dangerous situation.

“There are some children who are so sensitive to [peanuts] that just eating the M&Ms that are, the plain M&Ms that are made in the same factory as the peanut M&Ms, [and] they’ll have a reaction,” says Dr. Lonnie King of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

Tiana is having trouble breathing. She also has asthma. The danger in severe food allergies is anaphylactic shock – swelling in the mouth and throat that can choke off breathing.

“Sometimes, you never know how bad it’s going to be,” says Dr. King to Tiana’s mom, “so I think you did the right thing, getting her looked at – but I think she’s going to be okay.”

A medicated vapor helps to open Tiana’s lungs and airway. Later, when her breathing improves, she’s sent home.

The doctor says that, if your child has a peanut allergy, you need to keep an “EpiPen” handy at all times.

“The treatment is epinephrine, he says, “and there is a prescription for a self-injector, an inject-able epinephrine – that the parent or the patient can administer, and it can be life saving.”

Parents with peanut-allergic children also need to spread the word – that their child has a severe allergy.

“But it’s hard to do, and mistakes are made,” says Dr. King. “So if someone has a reaction, and you don’t have the epinephrine to inject that patient, if it is a severe reaction, you should call EMS.”

What We Need To Know

• Some symptoms of a severe reaction to peanuts may include increased saliva, swollen tongue or lips, an itchy inner mouth, difficulty breathing, heavy sweating, hives all over the body, shallow pulse or shallow breathing and changes in skin color. These signs and symptoms indicate a medical emergency – seek help immediately. (Allergy & Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics)
• Read food labels carefully. A new law, the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act, now requires food manufacturers to declare if any of eight major food allergens are in their products. (U.S. Food and Drug Administration)
• Avoid fried foods, especially in restaurants. They may be made with peanut oil, or contain peanuts or other nuts. (Nemours Foundation Center for Children’s Health Media)

Resources

• The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN)
• Allergy & Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics
• National Institutes of Health

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