New guidelines aim to stop kids' peanut allergies before they start
A rising number of U.S. children are allergic to peanuts, and doctors still aren't sure why.
But experts are increasingly convinced that feeding peanut-containing foods to infants can lower their chances of developing an allergy later in life.
To that end, a national panel of allergy specialists has created the first-ever guidelines that show parents and health care providers how and when to introduce all infants to peanuts.
SEE ALSO:FaceTime away: Doctors ease screen time limits for childrenThe guidelines continue the broader shift away from earlier advice that parents shouldn't introduce babies to peanuts before their first birthdays.
Researchers say their goal is to shield future generations of children from dangerous food allergies.
"You can take a major health issue off the table before it even starts," said Matthew Greenhawt, who chairs the food allergy committee of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI).
Via Giphy"We're hoping to decrease as many cases of peanut allergy as possible -- ideally in tens of thousands of children," he told Mashable.
Greenhawt co-authored the new guidelines as a member of the 26-person panel, which was sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infections Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health.
The guidelines, published Thursday in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, suggest that parents can introduce infants to peanut-containing products around the age of 6 months.
Certain restrictions apply to high-risk babies who have eczema or egg allergy, and all parents should discuss the guidelines first with their child's pediatrician before taking action.
Experts also stress that they don't mean giving whole peanuts to infants -- that's a choking hazard. Peanut-containing foods might mean watered-down peanut butter or purees containing peanut.
Peanut allergy is a growing public health problem in the U.S. and other countries, yet it still lacks any treatment or cure.
Common allergic reactions to peanuts include hives, rashes and itchy skin. In more severe cases, people can have a life-threatening reaction that hinders their breathing and sends their body into shock.
About 2 percent of U.S. children -- or 1 in 50 kids -- is allergic to peanuts, according to a 2011 national survey. That's up from just 0.4 percent of children in 1999.
Greenhawt said allergy and pediatric experts still don't know why peanut allergies are becoming more prevalent, although researchers are studying whether it has to do with children's lack of early exposure to peanuts, low levels of Vitamin D in kids or our immune system's bizarre reaction to the decline in infectious diseases.
The first hypothesis -- that a lack of peanut exposure results in allergy -- has gained the most traction, especially in light of a landmark 2015 study.
Via GiphyThe clinical trial involved hundreds of babies in London, where children typically don't consume any peanut-containing foods early in life, and in Tel Aviv, Israel, where babies often eat peanut-containing foods before they can walk.
Researchers found that babies who ate the equivalent of 4 heaping teaspoons of peanut butter every week -- starting when they were between 4 and 11 months old -- were about 80 percent less likely to develop an allergy by age 5.
"It seems that the earlier you give the [peanut-containing] food, there's a window where the immune system just doesn't see it as dangerous," said Greenhawt. "The body can be educated in a different way and tolerate the food."
The 2015 study prompted U.S. allergy and pediatric experts to develop the new guidelines.
They are, in brief:
For low-risk children (with no eczema or egg allergy): Once infants can eat solid foods, introduce them to peanut-containing foods at around 6 months.
For moderate-risk children (with mild-to-moderate eczema): Parents can introduce infants to peanut-containing foods at home, starting at around 6 months.
For high-risk infants (with severe, persistent eczema and/or egg allergy):Introduce peanut-containing foods as early as 4 to 6 months. Parents should first check with their infant's health care provider, who may choose to do an allergy blood test or send the infant to see a specialist. The results of these tests will help decide if and how peanuts should be introduced into the infant's diet.
Last year, the American Academy of Pediatrics endorsed similar recommendations to give high-risk infants peanut-containing foods around ages 4 to 11 months. Major allergy groups from Canada, Europe, Japan and beyond have also backed this approach.
Thursday's guidelines are the first to encourage parents to take a proactive steps for all infants.
"We're actively saying, 'Do this, and it's associated with a risk-reduction benefit,'" Greenhawt said.
"It's a much stronger and more targeted recommendation."
Featured Video For You
Guess what, kids – some schools in the U.S. are scrapping homework
TopicsFamily & Parenting
(责任编辑:资讯)
- 夜间献血模式“上线”
- 一老人患白内障和黄斑病变
- ‘Barbie’ tops $1 billion and a new record for female directors
- 揭开天全石斗桅杆之谜
- Malan retires from international cricket
- What to expect when a tech bubble bursts
- The ugly history behind those border agents chasing Haitian migrants on horseback.
- Video shows Ohio police pulling paraplegic Black man from car during traffic stop.
- Former Trump aide Dan Scavino finally served Jan. 6 committee subpoena.
- North Korea says it conducted important test to develop multiple warhead missile
- Tesla cuts prices of Model X and Model S in the U.S.
- 确保全会精神落地落实 加快建设国家茶叶公园城市
- Dutch eye maiden World Cup glory
-
17 Spectacular Outdoor Staircases
Spotting a steep set of stairs might elicit a groan from many. But in the right environment, a set o ...[详细] -
Meta has massive plans for VR, despite users not being that into it
Meta is planning to launch a new version of its Quest virtual reality headset this year, followed by ...[详细] -
Biden imposes first sanctions over North Korea weapons program after missile tests
U.S. President Joe Biden / AP-YonhapThe Biden administration imposed its first sanctions over North ...[详细] -
“土”出圈,美起来!揭西农业农村持续高质量发展_南方+_南方plus在揭阳市揭西县五经富镇大洋山上的茶园上,茶农们忙着给茶树施肥、修剪,为新一年的春茶采收做足准备;在灰寨镇橄榄酒厂,香甜橄榄酒已正式投 ...[详细]
-
Newborns hit new low, but births to those unmarried reach record high: data
(Getty Images)Births to those not married accounted for nearly 5 percent of all births last year, se ...[详细] -
Grace Brinkly on thrifting, life after TikTok, and the art of detachment
Who among us hasn't watched a TikTok creator display their haul of vintage denim and unique, thrifte ...[详细] -
本报讯近年来,名山区红星镇通过实施“两项改革”,优化资源配置、提升发展质量、增强服务能力、提高治理效能,把改革成果转化为发展红利和治理实效,促进乡村振兴发展。红星镇党委借改革之机加强村级班子建设,坚持 ...[详细]
-
Spurs reject Bayern’s bid for Kane
BERLIN:Bayern Munich have agreed personal terms with England captain Harry Kane, German daily Bild r ...[详细] -
China's Tsinghua University has scored a world first by demonstrating the inherent safety of the fir ...[详细]
-
Swiatek looks ahead to Wimbledon with opening win
BERLIN:With one eye on Wimbledon next month, world number one Iga Swiatek came from behind to win he ...[详细]
Students get free entry at second Rawalpindi Test but what’s the catch?
Egypt touts growing economic ties, infra projects with Korea
- World's first green ammonia plant is now open for business
- Grammarly introduces a ChatGPT
- 确保全会精神落地落实 加快建设国家茶叶公园城市
- Elon Musk's SpaceX wants to take you to Mars starting in 2024
- Tesla's big software update includes something called 'Night Curfew'
- 'Quordle' today: See each 'Quordle' answer and hints for August 2
- Twitter welcomes everyone to Twitter as it goes down