What's behind the influx of kids with peanut allergies?

I am not sure that there is an increase. I found “this article”: very interesting. Here is an excerpt (emphasis mine):

“But the medical research suggests that severe peanut allergies are not as common as people think and are surprisingly difficult to diagnose accurately. And although, as a parent, it may seem that peanut allergies have reached epidemic proportions, the evidence is surprisingly thin.

True allergies result when the immune system mistakes innocent substances—like dust, pet dander, and food proteins—for harmful invaders. Almost a century ago, the scientist Carl Prausnitz injected his skin with blood from a colleague allergic to fish and got hives at the injection sites upon eating fish. Later, scientists realized that blood from allergy sufferers contains an antibody called IgE, which erroneously attracts friendly fire from the immune system and can cause runny noses, red eyes, wheezing, hives, and, rarely, shock and death.

According to Anne Munoz-Furlong, a researcher and the founder of the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network, an advocacy group, today about 25 percent of parents believe that their children have food allergies, although only about 4 percent really do. A parent may suspect one after a few spit-ups or a screaming fit following a new food. Yet these are rarely true allergies. And even among children with true allergies caused by harmful IgE, only a tiny fraction will have life-threatening reactions, called anaphylaxis.”

I also have what is a somewhat unpopular belief that it is up to the allergic child and its parent to avoid peanut dangers. The public, in my opinion, should not have to eschew peanuts and peanut butter simply because some people have a rare reaction to it.

My wife is a teacher and we have exactly what you described. No more peanuts. Because of one kid. I read somewhere why there are more instances but I can’t remember. Seems like it had something to do with vaccinations but I’ll have to look it up.

I’ve heard they think it might be genetic. I also know that doctors nowadays are recommending you introduce solids way too early, which can seriously damage the digestive tract for the rest of their life (like diarrhea, constipation…usually diagnosed as IBS) They tell you to start giving rice cereal at 4 months, and then other types of cereals, like oatmeal or barley. Then you’re supposed to give veggies and fruits. I really think this all has an affect on our children in the long run. I’m not saying it develops a peanut allergy exactly, but it might contribute to all the new food allergies.
I know way too many children with allergies.

Actually, allergies are increasing especially in USA, and they will continue to do so. Compared to people living in third world countries, Americans are more prone to getting allergies due to a weaker immune system since they don’t encounter pollution/dust/etc on a regular basis. People in India, for example, have to deal with pollution on a daily basis and so they have a stronger immune system. I know this sounds counterintuitive, but they aren’t yet sure about the reasons behind this.

Here are some thoughts on the issue though:

“The first is the so-called “hygiene hypothesis,” which holds that people in industrialized countries are living in increasingly sterile environments. As a result, their immune systems don’t have to fight as many infections, so those systems can become hyperactive.” source (this source also mentions how allergies are indeed on the rise, and lists possible reasons behind this and possible solutions; it is fairly recent as of Nov 2008)

@Marina – I am surprised your source says otherwise, could you list it? I think you forgot to add the link after the colon.

@Marina Great answer, as always. I should say however that there are cases of individuals who are so sensitive to certain allergens that even a small whiff in the air can cause anaphylaxis and death. When I was studying for my PhD, my mentor, a prominent immunologist, introduced me to his two sons. Both had severe food allergies and anaphylaxis from minute quantities. One was allergic to milk, and we were advised never to bring milk based products to lab functions. Being an immunologist, he had gone to the trouble of systematically testing all foods until they identified the causal molecules. This was quite dangerous, but, he reasoned that they needed to know precisely what to avoid. In the end, the children had to eat lunch alone at school, carried epipens, and he had actually purchased a life-saving crash cart for their school, just in case.

@PnL Sorry, I did forget. (Middle age is heck!) Here is the link to the Boston Globe article.

I do agree about the sterile environment issue. Studies show that children with pets in the house are less prone to asthma and other allergies.

Our cultural obsession with anti-bacterial soap is a big factor in MRSA and other superbugs, I believe.

@shi My heart goes out to all of the children with these life-threatening conditions and to their parents. It must make everyday living a nightmare.

Your story supports my argument in one sense: Would it be right for all the children in their school to have to eschew milk and all milk products in order that the allergic child might attend school? I think mainstreaming today goes too far.

@PnL – isn’t it also true that in developed countries such as the US, people have access to much more sophisticated healthcare, and consequently have much lower mortality rates than less-developed countries?

So wouldn’t it follow that if a child has a very severe allergy, and they are born in a less developed country they are more likely to die from it because they don’t have a chance to go to a fancy doctor’s office and be diagnosed, or a chance to be rushed to the emergency room and given then necessary treatments to stop their throat from swelling up and killing them, and so they don’t go through life trying to avoid milk or peanuts or whatever carrying an epipen around, because they die from the allergy before they even have a chance to. (?)

(It kind of seems like there are too many confounding variables to make a meaningful comparison between “developed” and “undeveloped” countries.)

@La_chica_gomela – “Isn’t it also true that in developed countries such as the US, people have access to much more sophisticated healthcare, and consequently have much lower mortality rates than less-developed countries?” – Yep.

“So wouldn’t it follow that if a child has a very severe allergy, and they are born in a less developed country they are more likely to die from it….” – I am not sure I agree with this. In some countries, of course. But just because a country is third-world, doesn’t mean their health care has to be crap. My point about third world countries, which I should have stated more clearly was to do with their exposure to pollution, not as filtered water, less hygiene conscious/literate people. I was not talking about their medical system. Of course, your example can be true, about them not having the appropriate resources, and so they die soon of allergies before the allergies can be “reported” or counted in their statistics. I am sure there is some of this in play, but I feel it does not have as big an impact as the environment and hygiene.

What I was really trying to say is that it seems like it would be impossible to measure how much impact each variable has, in a scientific way, not just what we “feel” about it.

@La_chica_gomela There is a significantly lower incidence of autoimmune diseases in underdeveloped countries which isn’t really explained by your hypothesis.

I used to be allergic to peanuts! thank god I am not anymore.. I grew out of it.

The peanut parents are no not more numerous, they have just become more organized and vocal. In the past parents have taken the responsibility of teaching children with allergies how to take precautions. But what about diabetic children, and those with allergies to wheat, eggs and dairy. Are we responsible for keeping cookies, sandwiches and milk out of lunchboxes and the classroom? And for the rare case of extreme sensitivity to the sun. If a child should have that affliction should other children have to spend their days in a darkened classroom?

Besides the genetic factor, there is a higher relationshp between eczema and peanut allergy, there may be a relationship between soy in products for infants and peanut sensitivity. Does that mean we should ban soy for small children?

Such a small number of people are allergic to any particular thing, shouldn’t they be responsible for protecting themselves instead of visiting their conditions on everyone else?

If we are going to wipe all possible allergens off the earth, I want the govt to take on ragweed because every fall my eyes get swollen and I don’t like to take pills.

My daughter DID have a friend who died from a peanut allergy, but it was not at school It was at a Fresh Choice Restaurant and they had specifically asked if anything had peanut oil and were specifically told it didn’t. OOPS!

@Judi Sounds like lawsuit territory. A restaurant should have nutritional info (including ingredient lists) for every thing they serve. I have found they often are not knowledgeable about it.

I think there was a lawsuit but I never heard the results. Nothing really compensates you for the loss of a child though.

@Judi That is so true.