THAT’S NUTS

There is no cure for widespread peanut allergy, but there is a glimmer of hope for those who may accidently ingest a small amount. A recent study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology cited a protocol presented by colleagues at Harvard Medical School and Boston Children’s Hospital. They suggested a potentially lifesaving combination of an anti-allergy medication coupled with a desensitization process. Individuals were exposed to a minute amount of peanuts in a controlled medical environment. Increased by tiny amounts over time, the intention was that these individuals develop a level of toleration for peanuts, the trigger food. That, along with an FDA-approved drug, helped prevent allergic reactions when those patients came in contact with peanuts.

               

 

P.S. Based on the studies mentioned above, researchers are now going forward with similar trials testing for a variety of different allergy triggers.

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