What could be the cause of peanut allergy ?

Question

Hello doctor,

My daughter is 12 years old. My child has recently been diagnosed with a peanut allergy, and I have some questions regarding this condition. Could you please explain the common symptoms of a peanut allergy? How severe can a peanut allergy reaction be? Are there different levels of severity, and if so, what are the signs that an allergic reaction is becoming more serious? What are the best practices for avoiding peanuts and peanut products? How often should my child see an allergist? What role will the allergist play in managing my child's peanut allergy over time?

Please help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understood your concern.

Peanuts are known for allergic issues and you need to be careful. Usual signs and symptoms are skin rashes, hives, and itchiness, swelling of different parts of the body like swelling of the face, and lips, and complaints that the tongue is swollen. During serious and life-threatening reactions, the child will have difficulty in breathing. The child may be feeling dizzy. This is known as anaphylaxis. and you need to act fast. If not taken care of immediately, the victim may collapse. If taken care of properly, things resolve quickly and everything will be safe.

Some precautions that you need to take include,

1. Avoiding peanuts is necessary, thus always check any food or eatables having peanuts. Commercial food has the label of contents, check before consuming any.

2. Going to any party or to anybody's home, inform them that she is allergic to peanuts.

3. Lastly, it is recommended to put a Medical Alert Bracelet on her wrist.

4. A consulting allergist is good who can advise you on all precautions and may advise for desensitization at an appropriate age.

Hope it helps.

Thanks and regards.