peanut allergy FAQ

You have a peanut allergy when your body’s immune system overreacts to peanuts. Normally, your immune system helps protect you from germs and other harmful substances. But if you have a peanut allergy, your body responds to the proteins in peanuts as though they're dangerous. Your immune system works hard to fight them off, which triggers an allergic reaction. A peanut isn’t actually a nut. It’s a legume and belongs to the same family as peas and lentils. A peanut allergy is different than a tree nut allergy. Still, up to 40% of people who are allergic to peanuts are also allergic to tree nuts such as almonds, cashews, and walnuts. Peanuts are often hard to avoid. They can sneak their way into recipes or packaged food items. But even a trace of peanuts can be harmful. That’s why people with peanut allergies need to be extra careful about what they eat. More than 6 million Americans are allergic to peanuts. Roughly 1 in every 50 kids has a peanut allergy, making it the most common type of food allergy in children. Some grow out of it, but others have a peanut allergy for their whole lives. It's the third most common food allergy among adults. It's not clear why, but reported cases of peanut allergy have increased in recent years. A 2017 study found the number of children with peanut allergies had increased by 21% since 2010.

Talk to your care team if you have had any signs or symptoms of peanut allergy. Seek emergency treatment if you have a severe reaction to peanuts. Call, or have someone else call 911 or your local emergency number if you have any signs or symptoms of anaphylaxis such as: Severe dizziness. Severe trouble breathing. Loss of consciousness.

A healthcare professional is likely to ask you a number of questions, including: When did you begin noticing symptoms? After eating peanuts, how long did it take for symptoms to appear? What quantity of peanuts did you eat? Did you take any nonprescription allergy medications, such as antihistamines, and if so, did they help? Does your reaction seem to be triggered only by peanuts or by other foods as well? How severe are your symptoms? What, if anything, seems to improve your symptoms? What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?

If you think you have a peanut allergy, avoid contact with peanuts until you can meet with your care team. If you have a severe reaction, seek emergency help. Burks AW, et al. Middleton's Allergy: Principles and Practice. 9th ed. Elsevier; 2020. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed May 20, 2024. Wang J. Peanut, tree nut, and seed allergy: Management. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed May 20, 2024. Rich RR, et al., eds. Clinical Immunology: Principles and Practice. 6th ed. Elsevier; 2023. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed May 20, 2024. Keet C, et al. Food allergy in children: Prevalence, natural history, and monitoring for resolution. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed May 20, 2020. The current state of oral immunotherapy (OIT) for the treatment of food allergy. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. https://www.aaaai.org/conditions-and-treatments/library/allergy-library/oit. Accessed May 24, 2020. Sicherer SH. Food allergy in schools and camps. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed May 24, 2020. Campbell RL, et al. Anaphylaxis: Emergency treatment. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed May 24, 2024. AskMayoExpert. Food allergy. Mayo Clinic; 2023. Food allergy treatment research. NIH: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. https://www.niaid.nih.gov/diseases-conditions/food-allergy-treatment-research. Accessed May 28, 2024. Oral Immunotherapy. NIH: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/oral-immunotherapy-induces-remission-peanut-allergy-some-young-children. May 28, 2024.

If you think you are allergic to peanuts, see an allergist. Start a food diary before the appointment and keep track of any reactions. If you’ve never had a severe reaction, they might suggest what’s called an “elimination diet.” You would cut out peanuts or other suspected foods for a week or longer. Then you would add them back in one at a time to see what might be causing you to react. Your doctor may also do a skin test, placing a small amount of the food on you and then pricking it with a needle. If you are allergic to peanuts , you will develop a raised bump or reaction. You may also need a blood test to check to see whether your immune system launches an allergic reaction to peanuts.

Foods that contain peanuts have to say so on the label. That’s the law in the United States. Read all food labels every time, because ingredients can change. There might be nuts in something you didn’t think had them. If you aren’t sure, check with the product’s maker. There is no easy fix for the allergy. The only way to prevent a bad reaction is to avoid peanuts. But no matter how careful you are, you may still come into contact with them because they’re so common. It is important to know how to act fast in a life-threatening case. Peanut allergies usually are lifelong for most people. But research finds that about 20% of children who have the allergy outgrow it eventually. For children at risk of peanut allergies, (like those with a family history of it, or with other food allergies, or eczema) the recommendations to do allergy testing and introducing peanut products vary depending on the child's risk.

Symptoms of an allergic response to peanuts will usually start within minutes of exposure, and they can include: Tightening in the throat Shortness of breath or wheezing Skin reaction such as hives or redness Tingling or itching in the mouth or throat Diarrhea , nausea , stomach cramps or vomiting A runny nose

Children -- especially toddlers and infants -- are more likely to develop food allergies . If you or other family members have other types of allergies , peanuts could be a problem. Also, if you have eczema, you may also be more likely to be allergic. If you have peanut allergy , that doesn’t have to mean you are more likely to have a problem with other nuts or legumes. Peanuts grow underground and are different from almonds, cashews, walnuts and other tree nuts. But recent studies found that 25% to 40% of people who have peanut allergy are allergic to tree nuts, too.