What You Need to Know About a New Peanut Allergy Treatment
If approved by the FDA, the new treatment might allow peanut-allergic kids to eat small amounts of peanuts, but at what risk?
Taking a child with food allergies out to eat can be stressful. With peanut allergies, parents have to be even more vigilant. Because of the ease with which peanuts end up in and cross-contaminate other foods as well as the potentially fatal effects of simply breathing in the peanut protein for some, the prospect of a prescription treatment is piquing interest.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration expert panel recommended the approval of the first drug designed to treat peanut allergies in children by reducing the allergic reaction. The drug, called Palforzia by Aimmune Therapeutics, would be the first of its kind approved to prevent or lessen the severity of life-threatening peanut allergy reactions in children.
According to Food Allergy Research and Education, the number of people in the U.S. with peanut allergies has tripled since 1997. Peanut allergies are one of the most common and severe food allergies in the United States, affecting more than 1.2 million children. Rachel Long’s son was 5 months old when he was diagnosed with a peanut allergy. He’s now 4 and has a higher level of…
