A widely recognized authority on peanut allergy, Dr. Scott Sicherer answers some of the most frequently asked questions about peanut allergy, which has become a growing threat in recent years, especially to children and of course, to all those who care for and love them.

Q: How many people have peanut allergies?
A: An estimated 1.7 million Americans suffer from peanut allergies. That translates to approximately 6 out of every 1,000 people in the United States. But among children, who are more commonly affected, an estimated 1 out of 125 children have a peanut allergy.

Q: What are some of the most common symptoms
of a peanut allergy?
A: Common symptoms can affect the skin, lungs, gut and even the heart, with reactions occurring minutes after exposure to peanuts. The most common is hives, small raised itchy bumps. Other skin reactions include redness, blotches and swelling. Lung and breathing symptoms include congested or runny nose, tightness in the throat and problems breathing normally. Gut symptoms include itchy mouth, stomach pain, nausea, and sometimes vomiting and diarrhea.

One of the most dangerous symptoms involves circulation, which means the heart is not pumping properly and blood pressure drops. This state, called shock, may involve paleness, dizziness, disorientation and loss of consciousness. Some people even report a feeling of impending doom prior to having these serious symptoms.

Of course, individuals may experience any of these symptoms as a result of some other disorder; they may not be due to peanut allergy. That is why getting immediate medical assistance is so important.

Q: How is peanut allergy treated?
A: The major treatments involve (1)avoidance of peanuts and (2)medication in case of accidental exposure to peanut. Avoiding peanut products can be very tricky, so it?s important to learn everything you can about peanut allergy, which will help you avoid exposure in the many different situations that occur throughout life.

The primary medication for peanut allergy is epinephrine, which should be quickly available to the allergic person at all times so he or she can immediately use it if exposure occurs, since a reaction could be life-threatening. Most reactions occur within 20 minutes, but some can occur much faster, in 5 minutes or less, while others can take as long as an hour. The lesson is: always have the medication with you or, in the case of a young child, with a trained adult who is with, or quickly accessible to the child (such as the school nurse.) Older children can learn to use the medication on their own, but must be certain to always have it with them.

Q: Are peanut allergies ever outgrown?
A: Recent studies indicate that about one in five young children with peanut allergy no longer has the allergy when he or she reaches school age.

Q: What should I do if I think my child might have a peanut allergy?
A: Because peanut allergy can be a life-threatening condition, it is very important to seek immediate medical care. You can see your pediatrician or primary care physician first, but if a peanut allergy is suspected or diagnosed, it is usually best to consult a physician who specializes in treating this condition. When you have the necessary information to care for peanut allergy and you follow all the guidelines, it is possible for your child to lead a completely normal life and do everything everyone else does--except eat peanuts!

Additional information on these questions and many others relating to peanut allergy can be found in the recently published book, THE COMPLETE PEANUT ALLERGY HANDBOOK (Berkley, 2005.) The author, Scott Sicherer, M.D., is associate professor of pediatrics at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and a researcher in the Jaffe Food Allergy Institute at Mount Sinai.