Early introduction of peanuts.
Peanut allergy is the most common food allergy and the leading cause of anaphylaxis and death due to food allergy. Despite previous guidelines created by the American Academy of Pediatrics in 2003, peanut allergy has continued to significantly increase over the past decade. Therefore, further research has been done to help clinicians provide more evidence-based recommendations about the timing of introduction of peanuts. The LEAP study, published in February 2015, demonstrated the value of much earlier introduction of peanuts to nonallergic patients than previously suggested. These findings have altered current practice, and recommendations supported by the American Academy of Pediatrics now allow the introduction of peanuts as early as age 4 months to reduce the likelihood of developing peanut allergy.
Shelley Rickman, Desiree Duby, Michelle Peters, and Carla Freigeh are students in the PA program at High Point (N.C.) University. Mark E. Archambault is director of research and an associate professor at High Point University, and department editor of What's New in. The authors have disclosed no potential conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise.
Shelley
S
Rickman
Desiree
D
Duby
Michelle
M
Peters
Carla
C
Freigeh
Mark E
ME
Archambault
D000367:Age Factors; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic / Q000379:methods*; D004032:Diet; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D021183:Peanut Hypersensitivity / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic