Many people automatically think of children when they hear the phrase 'peanut allergy.' However, new research showed that this common food allergy already affected approximately 4.5 million adults in the U.S.
According to Northwestern University researchers, more adults in the U.S. are impacted by peanut allergies than infants, and several of these allergies may not appear to show up before adulthood.
Researcher Dr. Ruchi Gupta said per U.S. News that Palforzia, currently the only peanut allergy drug approved by the FDA, is only recommended for pediatric patients.
Because of the rising peanut allergy cases in U.S. adults, Gupta claimed new treatments are required to resolve this increased risk of illness better.
Trends in allergies around the U.S.
To assess how widespread peanut allergies are in adulthood, the researchers surveyed over 40,000 adults worldwide. Among other subjects, the participants referred to questions regarding diagnosed allergies, signs they encounter during allergic reactions, and how they usually treat allergic reactions.
The study showed that peanut allergies are far more widespread during maturity than several individuals might have known. Although a diagnosed peanut allergy was recorded by just over three percent of the participants, almost 17 percent of that population had not acquired their allergies until they were 18 or older.
Researcher Christopher Warren told Eukalert that peanut allergy tends to impact children and adults to a similar degree, unlike allergies such as milk or eggs that sometimes occur early in life and are outgrown by puberty.
The study shows that many adults do not outgrow their childhood peanut allergies and, for the first time, many adults develop peanut allergies.
Signs and Symptoms of Peanut Allergy
Typically, an allergic reaction to peanuts develops within minutes of exposure. Signs and symptoms of peanut allergy might include:
- Hives, redness, swelling and other skin reactions;
- Itchy throat;
- Diarrhea, cramping of the throat, nausea or vomiting;
- Breath or wheezing shortness; or
- Runny nose
Seeking Adult Therapies
Bruce Roberts, Food Allergy Research & Education's chief research policy and innovation officer, who was not engaged in the report, told CNN that adult peanut allergies are far more common than expected.
Roberts suggested visiting a primary care practitioner to get checked if you think you have a peanut allergy.
Besides peanuts, he says that other vital allergens, such as nuts, should be screened. According to the study, adults with an adult-onset peanut allergy were more prone to record many allergies than adults with a childhood-onset peanut allergy.
One of the essential takeaways from this research is that a health care provider has never checked their symptoms. They still may not provide a go-to medication for their allergy symptoms for several participants who had reported possible peanut allergies. Several patients have been prescribed EpiPens; this was not the case for many of the research participants.
Warren said that patients with adult-onset peanut allergy were less likely to confirm a doctor's diagnosis and current epinephrine prescription amid comparable rates of severe reactions and estimated food allergy-related emergency room visits.
The researchers advise anyone with a possible food allergy to contact their physicians to ensure patients can manage the effects at home. Patients are not inadvertently subjected to anything that can cause a reaction. Taking this essential move will offer peace of mind and provide greater security for customers against any possible allergens.
Researcher Dr. Dawn Lei said, per Eurekalert, that clinical awareness regarding potential food allergies is crucial to mitigating the likelihood of excessive sensitivity to allergens, regardless of their confirmed onset, and ensuring that patients access essential emergency epinephrine treatment and medication.
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