By Julia Vann
Experts say that peanut allergies have almost become an epidemic among children. While peanuts have become the most dangerous allergy, food allergies in general have been on the rise.
According to CNBC, there are about two children per classroom with food allergies. In addition, the frequency of food allergies in children has tripled between 1987 and 2008. And the reason why still baffles scientists.
It seems as though the primary theory is kids these days aren’t exposed to as many pathogens. Everything is too clean. Their immune systems don’t need to attack deadly viruses, so it gets confused and attacks the body over foods instead.
Some children outgrow their allergies, as is common with milk and egg allergies, but outgrowing peanut allergies is not as common. Due to the severity of the allergy, it puts those afflicted with it at a daily risk. And even worse, the amount of people with the allergy only continues to grow.
There aren’t any cures for allergies yet, but a silver lining exists. There are treatments in development to help increase tolerance to peanuts. It involves slowly, but surely, increasing a peanut intake daily. It starts very low, down to the hundreths, and there have been cases of it working up to the tolerance of two peanuts.
While this doesn’t get rid of the allergy entirely, it still increases the safety of the person who has it.
Accidental exposure unfortunately does happen, but with this new treatment, it can mean the difference between life and death.
To learn more about recent healthcare news, visit the American Medical Compliance website.
