How Do Peanut Allergies Affect Children?
Despite the name, peanuts are actually a legume, like string beans. The American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology estimates at least 400,000 children are allergic to peanuts in the United States. Each child is different, while allergies range from mild to severe, so peanuts can affect them in different ways. The reaction can also vary depending on whether the child touches, eats or inhales the offending substance.
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Foreign Proteins and Histamine
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Allergies occur because your body recognizes something as an invader, according to Kids Health. In the case of peanuts, it̵7;s the proteins in the peanuts that cause the release of antibodies, which your body normally uses to fight infections. These antibodies then trigger the release of a chemical called histamine. Histamine can cause a number of unpleasant symptoms such as wheezing, nausea and vomiting. In a severe reaction, it can cause so much swelling that a child has trouble breathing and could cause her death.
Reacting to Peanuts
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Reactions vary according to whether your child eats something with peanuts in it, gets peanut residue on her hands or breathes the odor from something like the peanut butter and jelly sandwich eaten by her little brother. A little peanut residue on the hands can easily be transferred to the eyes, for example, and cause swelling, itching or watery eyes. Eating food that contains peanuts may cause severe gastrointestinal symptoms, or a cough, wheezing and other symptoms similar to asthma.
Anaphylaxis
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When a child has a severe peanut allergy and is exposed to peanuts, she may develop anaphylaxis, a life-threatening condition in which her blood pressure drops and tissues in her airways and tongue swell. Children who respond to peanuts with symptoms of anaphylaxis need immediate emergency medical treatment. Many doctors recommend a child with a severe peanut allergy keep an emergency epinephrine kit on hand at all times. Even trace amounts of peanuts eaten by a child with severe peanut allergy can trigger anaphylaxis, with potentially fatal results.
Protecting Your Child
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A child with peanut allergies must learn to be vigilant to protect herself. Parents can help, especially when the child is small, but older children should be taught to recognize the potential for exposure. Certain kinds of food, such as sunflower seeds or tree nuts, may be roasted in peanut oil. Asian and Mexican foods often contain peanuts, such as peanut butter, which may be in sauces and not visible in the food. Teach your child to tell people she has a peanut allergy, to read food labels and ask questions about the food served in restaurants.
A Family Lifestyle
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A peanut allergy in one child typically means the whole house must be peanut-free, as siblings may spread the oil to surfaces the allergic child will touch. Even a child with a mild allergy has the potential to react with anaphylaxis. Everyone who comes in contact with your child should understand the risk of peanut exposure -- grandparents, siblings, friends and teachers. Siblings should be taught not to eat peanuts or bring them home. Informed teachers can instruct parents not to send or bring peanut treats for school parties. Younger children especially need the vigilance of informed adults and older siblings.
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