How to Diagnose a Peanut Allergy

Peanut allergies affect over 1 million people in the United States. The most common cause of life-threatening allergic reactions, callled anaphylaxis, peanut allergies account for 80 percent of fatal or near-fatal allergic reactions each year. Reduce your risk, that of a child or another sufferer, of having an allergic reaction to peanuts by knowing as much as possible about peanut allergy and how to avoid products including this ingredient. Read on to learn more.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Understand that there's a difference between peanut allergy and peanut intolerance. It can be difficult to know the difference. If you have peanut intolerance, you may be able to eat small amounts of peanuts with only mild symptoms, such as indigestion or heartburn. Maybe you'll have no reaction at all. On the other hand, an allergy to peanuts involves an immune system response. The tiniest amount of peanuts may trigger a serious allergic reaction. Tests can help to determine whether you have true peanut allergy, or just an intolerance.
2. Antipate symptoms of an allergic reaction. Exposure to peanuts, or even traces of peanuts, may cause immediate reactions. These include itching, redness, swelling, shortness of breath, wheezing, nausea, abdominal pain, lightheadedness or loss of consciousness (anaphylaxis). The chemicals in peanuts can cause hives to develop on the skin, where it has been in contact with peanuts. These hives may spread to the rest of your body.
3. Know that allergic reactions to peanuts typically happen within minutes after exposure; reactions occuring within an hour or so after ingestion are possible. Signs and symptoms can range in severity; this is dependent on which body systems are involved in a reaction, and how much peanut protein the body has been exposed to.
4. Be aware that the most serious--and potentially deadly--allergic reaction to peanuts is an anaphylactic response. Highly sensitive individuals can develop an anaphylactic reaction immediately after peanut exposure. When this happens, it causes the airways to constrict, making breathing difficult. Blood pressure can drop to life-threateningly low levels, making you feel dizzy or even lose consciousness. Other serious signs and symptoms of an anaphylactic reaction include: wheezing, rapid or weak pulse, blueness of your skin, including your lips and nail beds, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, dizziness or loss of consciousness.
5. Avoid the following common food products if you suspect an allergy. These items can trigger peanut allergy symptoms if they contain peanut proteins: peanut butter, peanut flour, ground or mixed nuts, baked goods, such as cookies and pastries, ice cream and frozen desserts, energy bars,
   salad dressing, cereals and granola, grain breads, marzipan (a molding confection made of nuts, egg whites and sugar), and nougat.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have any reaction to peanuts, tell your doctor about it, even if the reaction was mild. Tests available can help diagnose peanut allergy, so you can take steps to avoid future reactions.
• Seek emergency medical care if you or someone else experiences an anaphylactic reaction.