Peanuts are one of the most common food allergies affecting children in Atlanta. Given the potential risk of anaphylaxis, parents are understandably eager to find a peanut allergy treatment at the first sign of an issue. However, identifying peanuts as the source of a reaction is not always easy. If you’re concerned about your child’s food allergy symptoms, following simple steps can help confirm the trigger.
Common Peanut Allergy Symptoms to Look Out For
The severity of a peanut allergy reaction can vary considerably. While most symptoms will be mild and often affect only one part of the body, symptoms can also be considered “moderate” and in some cases (more rarely), they can be considered severe. It’s a good idea for parents to be vigilant with peanut allergy symptoms and document reaction occurrences for an allergist. Common symptoms include skin rashes and hives, stomach pains and diarrhea, coughing, a runny nose, even breathing difficulties.
When Does a Child’s Peanut Allergy Reaction Occur?
The onset of peanut allergy symptoms will typically occur within a few minutes of exposure. In fact, the very speed of the reaction can make it easier to pinpoint peanuts as being the trigger of an allergic response. However, in some cases reactions do not occur until a few hours after exposure, clearly making it more difficult to find the cause. Once again, documenting the details and times of the food consumption and reaction can greatly assist your doctor in diagnosing the allergy.
How a Peanut Allergy Is Diagnosed
Treatments like oral immunotherapy can benefit a child with a peanut allergy. But to develop a treatment plan, your allergist will first want to conduct food allergy testing. Using skin prick testing in most cases, your allergist will place various allergens (including peanut protein) on your child’s arm, then scratch the surface to allow the substance to go beneath the skin’s surface.
Your allergist may also recommend blood testing. During this simple process, blood is drawn and sent to a laboratory to test for specific antibodies. The results of all allergy test procedures must be assessed alongside symptom details (and the child’s medical history) to confirm if they have a peanut allergy.
What to Do if Your Child Has a Peanut Allergy
While a peanut allergy diagnosis is naturally concerning for any parent, various treatments can substantially reduce the risk of allergic reactions. Allergy desensitization with oral immunotherapy treatment is commonly regarded as the most effective long-term approach, as it will reduce the immune system’s sensitivity to the allergen. Treatment requires the child to consume regular doses of peanut protein until the risk of a severe reaction is reduced. After desensitizing the immune system, many patients can eat several peanuts without suffering an allergic reaction.
Peanut Allergy Treatments for Children in the Atlanta Area
If your child has an allergic reaction after eating peanuts, speak with our experienced allergists today. We welcome families and people of all ages to our allergy center locations for comprehensive testing and treatment services. Call (678) 668-4688 or request an appointment today.
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