How to Diagnose a Peanut Allergy

Peanut allergies affect over 1 million people in the United States and make up 80 percent of yearly fatal or near-fatal allergic reactions. You can reduce your risk of having an allergic reaction to peanuts by learning about the allergy and avoiding products containing peanuts. Read on to learn more.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Determine whether you have a true peanut allergy or simply a peanut intolerance. With an intolerance, eating peanuts may cause minor symptoms such as indigestion or heartburn. However, an actual peanut allergy causes an immune system response, triggering serious allergic reactions. Medical tests can determine whether you have a peanut allergy or an intolerance.
2. Anticipate symptoms of an allergic reaction. Exposure to traces of peanuts can cause immediate reactions ranging from redness, itching and swelling to nausea, shortness of breath and loss of consciousness. Even simple contact with your skin can cause hives if you have an allergy to peanuts.
3. Know that symptoms of a peanut allergy usually occur within minutes of exposure to peanuts, but you can experience a reaction after as long as 1 hour. Some reactions are more severe than others, depending on how much peanut protein you're exposed to and which body systems are involved.
4. Be aware that the most serious allergic reaction to peanuts is anaphylaxis. During an anaphylactic reaction, the airways constrict, making it hard to breathe, and your blood pressure drops, which can make you feel dizzy or even lose consciousness. Other serious symptoms of an anaphylactic reaction can include wheezing, blueness of your skin, lips and nail beds, a rapid or weak pulse, dizziness and nausea.
5. Avoid food products that contain or may contain peanut proteins if you suspect an allergy. Common foods you should avoid are peanut butter, baked goods like pastries and cookies, peanut flour, energy bars, cereals, salad dressing, frozen desserts and nougat.

Tips & Warnings

• Tell your doctor about any reaction you have to peanuts, no matter how mild.