Kids' Peanut Allergies Might Be Tamed: Study SATURDAY Feb. 27,
2010 -- Help may be on the way for children with serious peanut
allergies, with two new studies suggesting that slowly
increasing consumption might build kids' tolerance over time.
Both studies were small, and designed to build upon each other.
They focused on peanut-allergic children whose immune systems
were prompted to slowly develop tolerance to the food by
consuming a controlled but escalating amount of peanut over a
period of up to five years. "The current goal with this work is
not to allow patients with peanut allergies to consciously eat
peanuts, but to prevent the severe symptoms that can occur
should they have accidental ingestion," noted study co-author
Dr. Tamara Perry, an assistant professor of pediatrics at the
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine
in Little Rock, Ark. "Of course the ultimate goal would be to
promote tolerance that would allow these patients -- children
and adults -- to eat peanuts," Perry