Allergy on peanuts is common among young children. The symptoms of peanut allergy range from a minimal irritation to a life-threatening response also known as anaphylaxis. Some people end up with a serious problem even when tiny amounts of peanut are consumed.
If a person or a child has allergy to peanuts, seek medical help because it is one of the most common causes of a severe attacks of allergy. It is important to check even if it is just a minor reaction and there is still a risk of serious reactions in the future. By enrolling in a first aid class, you can readily handle an allergic reaction.
Symptoms of peanut allergy
Allergic reactions to peanuts occur within minutes after exposure and it can range from mild to severe. Some of these symptoms include the following:
- Itching and tingling sensations can be felt in and the area the surrounding the mouth and the throat.
- There is tightening of the throat, shortness of breath and wheezing
- Some skin reactions like hives, redness or swelling
- Runny nose
- Digestive problems like diarrhea, abdominal cramping, nausea or vomiting
Allergy on peanut is the cause of food-induced anaphylaxis which is a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment with an epinephrine injector. The common symptoms include constriction of the airways, rapid pulse rate, severe drop in the blood pressure also known as shock, swelling of the throat that it makes difficult to breathe and dizziness, light-headedness or loss of consciousness.
Causes of peanut allergy
- By eating peanut or foods that contains peanuts and also direct contact with peanuts can cause allergic reactions.
- Unintentional mixing of peanuts into a product such as a food being exposed to peanuts during the processing or handling.
- By inhaling dust or aerosols that contains peanuts such as peanut flour or peanut oil.
Treatment and home remedies
- Always read labels of foods to make sure they do not contain peanut or peanut products.
- Avoid foods that contains even small amounts of peanuts
- Avoid eating foods that contains peanuts such as energy bars, cereals, granola, grain breads, ground or mixed nuts, some baked goods like cookies and pastries, ice cream and frozen desserts and marzipan.
- Some less obvious foods that needs to be avoided include salad dressings, chocolate candies, sunflower seeds, nut butter, foods that are sold in bakeries, nougat, pet food, and arachis oil also known as peanut oil and some cultural foods like African, Chinese, Indonesian and Mexican dishes.
- Avoid artificial or imitation nuts since they are usually made with peanuts.
- Avoid fumes from cooking and handling peanuts if the person is severely allergic to peanuts
- Add vitamin C with bioflavonoids supplements to the diet, about 1000 to 5000 mg per day in divided doses or take quercetin, 500 mg twice daily, it helps in the body to survive with allergens, reduce inflammation and for the support of the immune system.