Originally published November 27 2005
New study claims tree nut allergies can be outgrown
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
According to a study in the Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology, nine percent of children with an allergy to tree nuts will someday outgrow that allergy, including those who have experienced a severe reaction.
It is estimated that 1%-2% of the United States population is allergic to peanuts, tree nuts or both.
Previous research has shown that children allergic to peanuts have a 20% chance of outgrowing their allergy.
A research team led by Robert A. Wood from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, evaluated 278 children (Ages 3-21 years) to determine the percentage of those who will outgrow their allergy.
Researchers also sought to determine what level of tree nut specific-IgE in the blood would be a safe level before testing the child through an oral food challenge, which is currently the best way to prove that a child has outgrown their food allergy.
Approximately 9% of children allergic to tree nuts outgrow their allergy, including children who have had a previous severe allergic reaction.
Based on these findings, researchers recommend that children with a current tree nut allergy be re-evaluated periodically by their allergist/immunologist to assess whether they have developed a tolerance and whether an oral challenge should be given.
While an ideal cut-off has not been established, researchers suggest that oral challenges should be considered in children four years and older, and who have less than five kilounits per liter of tree-nut specific IgE in their blood.
Since tree nut allergies were previously thought to last a lifetime, few patients underwent a re-evaluation to determine if their allergy still existed.
They were simply told to avoid tree nuts, and were prescribed epinephrine to take in the event a severe reaction occurred.
However, based on the results of the current study, it is now clear that periodic reevaluation is warranted.
While only 9% will outgrow their allergy, researchers stress that it is important that these patients be identified so that they no longer need to worry about this otherwise potentially deadly allergy.
All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Truth Publishing LLC takes sole responsibility for all content. Truth Publishing sells no hard products and earns no money from the recommendation of products. NaturalNews.com is presented for educational and commentary purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice from any licensed practitioner. Truth Publishing assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. For the full terms of usage of this material, visit www.NaturalNews.com/terms.shtml