Resolution of childhood peanut allergy

Peanut allergy creates great fear in many families because it is one of the leading causes of fatal and near-fatal food-induced allergies. Earlier reports suggested that peanut allergy was life-long, but a recent study described resolution of peanut allergy in some children.

Tolerance to peanut allergy in childhood was studied. Examination of the natural history of childhood peanut allergy was explored.

A retrospective review of all children with peanut allergy seen at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia in a 3-year period (n = 293). Children with histories of peanut allergy were challenged at the mean age [3.8 years; range 1.5 to 8 year] which was 1.8 years [range: 0.5 to 6.8 years], following their last known clinical reaction. Food allergy or tolerance was confirmed by open challenges.

Thirty-three patients with histories of peanut allergy and a positive skin test to peanut underwent oral challenges. Not one patient (n = 5) with a history of peanut anaphylaxis developed tolerance to peanuts. In comparison, 9 of 17 patients with history of urticaria upon ingestion to peanuts developed tolerance. Also, 4 of 10 patients with flaring of their atopic dermatitis upon ingestion to peanuts developed tolerance. The 14 patients with a negative challenge to peanut had a significantly smaller wheal and flare reaction than the 19 patients with positive challenges. Tolerance to peanut was documented by a positive challenge reverting to a negative challenge in one patient. Oral challenge of 13 additional patients with positive skin tests and histories of only refusing to eat peanut resulted in 5 (39%) positive challenges.

A selected group of peanut-allergic children, who do not have a history anaphylaxis to peanut, may develop tolerance to peanuts.