Introduction of peanut in high risk infants

Abstract

Peanut allergy is a major public health concern estimated to affect between 0.5-2% of children,^1-3 and is one of the most common causes of food-related anaphylaxis.⁴ Peanut allergy usually begins early in life and tends to be persistent in at least 80% of cases.⁵ There is no known “cure” for peanut allergy, though specific oral tolerance induction is being used to try and desensitise patients, but is in most cases not leading to permanent tolerance. Therefore, much attention has been paid recently to investigate strategies for the prevention of peanut allergy. Prevention of peanut allergy would have a significant impact on the individual as well as, potentially, at a public health level in view of recent evidence of an increase in peanut allergy in many parts of the world.^2,4