Peanuts and products thereof
Peanut is a legume that often provoke severe allergic reactions. In some cases, trace amounts of one milligram can trigger a reaction. In comparison, a peanut weighs between 500 and 1000 milligrams.
Around one to two per cent of all children in industrialised countries are allergic to peanuts. When considering only those studies in which a peanut allergy was confirmed through a provocation test, it has been demonstrated that 0.2 per cent of the entire European population is allergic to peanuts.
The most common form is the primary food allergy, which most frequently appears in childhood. Allergic individuals react to certain proteins in the peanut, usually storage proteins. These proteins are important for the growth of the plant and are so stable that they cannot be altered by heat or stomach acid. If test results reveal a high level of IgE antibodies against the storage protein Ara h 2 in the blood, there is often a high risk of severe allergic reactions.
Symptoms
A peanut allergy can cause mild or severe reactions in various organs. Symptoms range from what is called oral allergy syndrome, in which the mucosa in the mouth and throat start to tingle or swell a few minutes to hours after exposure, to anaphylactic shock accompanied by difficulty breathing and circulatory collapse.
It can lead to abdominal pain, vomiting or diarrhoea. In some cases, the airways are affected and allergic rhinitis or asthma symptoms can develop. The skin may also develop allergic reactions. Apart from itchiness, redness and hives, a peanut allergy can also trigger or worsen an eczema flare-up. In particular, adolescents and young adults with bronchial asthma are among those at risk of suffering from severe anaphylactic reactions.