Kids and peanut and tree nut allergies

A peanut or tree nut allergy is an abnormal response of the body to the proteins found in peanuts or tree nuts. The term 'tree nut' refers to nuts and seeds such as almonds, brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamias, pecans, pistachios and walnuts. Peanuts and tree nuts contain proteins that can cause an allergic reaction in up to three per cent of children. While most common food allergies, such as those to cow’s milk and eggs, go away during childhood, peanut and tree nut allergies rarely do. Peanut and tree nut allergies are most common in young children, but allergies can develop at any age, even in adulthood.

When you think of allergies, you might picture lots of sneezing and runny noses. But unlike an allergy to spring flowers, a peanut or tree nut allergy can cause difficulty breathing and other very serious health problems. It is therefore so important for someone with a tree nut or peanut allergy to avoid eating nuts and peanuts, which can be very tough because they're in lots of food that we like to eat.

In a mild allergic reaction one or more of these symptoms can occur:

• hives, welts or wheals (a red, lumpy rash, like mosquito bites)

• a tingling feeling in or around the mouth

• stomach pain

• vomiting and/or diarrhea

• facial swelling.

In a severe reaction one or more of these symptoms can occur:

• difficulty with breathing

• noisy breathing

• wheeze or persistent cough

• swelling of the tongue

• swelling and/or tightness in the throat

• difficulty talking or hoarse voice

• loss of consciousness or collapse

• becoming pale and floppy (infants/young children).

The best treatment for peanut or tree nut allergy is avoiding the specific nuts completely. This can be very hard to do because many foods are made in factories that may have used peanuts or nuts in other foods. Even in tiny amounts, peanuts and nuts can cause symptoms. It is so important to read all labels on foods.  By law, any product that may contain peanuts or tree nuts (or even tiny amounts of these nuts) must include that information on the food labelling. Some manufacturers will label their products as possibly containing traces of nuts due to other foods that are processed at the same facility.