Rapid Fire
Peanut Allergy
- 02 Aug 2024
- 1 min read
Recently, Australia has launched a groundbreaking program for treating peanut allergies in infants, aiming to build immunity through oral immunotherapy.
- Australia is often referred to as the "allergy capital of the world," with 1 in 10 infants diagnosed with food sensitivities.
- The prevalence of peanut allergy in India is quite low (around 0.03%) among children.
- The program is designed for babies under 12 months who have been diagnosed with peanut allergies and are receiving care at participating hospitals.
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Peanut Allergy:
- It occurs when your immune system mistakenly identifies peanut proteins as something harmful.
- Peanut exposure can occur through direct contact (eating peanuts or peanut-containing foods), cross-contact (peanuts unintentionally included in other foods), or inhalation (breathing in peanut dust or aerosols).
- Symptoms:
- Treatment Method: Peanut allergy treatment focuses on avoidance, but oral immunotherapy, such as Palforzia (approved for ages 4-17), can reduce severe reactions. It's not a cure and is not suitable for those with certain conditions.
