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Approximately 400,000 kids in the United States have peanut allergies, and thanks to guidelines from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), this number may be on the decline.
According to the experts, kids with the highest risk of having a peanut allergy should be tested with a tiny dose of peanut protein because it might prevent the allergy from developing altogether.
Researchers found that incorporating peanut products into the diets of at-risk infants or babies with a diagnosed egg allergy, severe eczema or an inflammatory skin disorder reduced their chances of developing a peanut allergy later in life by 81 percent.
Scientists believe that by feeding children small amounts of peanuts throughout infancy, their immune systems can be trained to tolerate the substance and prevent the onset of a peanut allergy.
While allergy specialists admit these new findings are groundbreaking, they continue to recommend parents of at-risk children consult with their pediatrician or allergist before feeding their kids peanuts, as allergic reactions can be fatal.
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