Peanut: An example of a common food allergy

Peanut (groundnuts)

About 0.5-1% of all children in western countries have peanut allergy. Most children (an estimated 75%) do not grow out of this allergy. However, it is advisable to retest regularly, every few years, for the presence of a peanut allergy. Peanut is a nasty, possibly life-threatening allergen and this allergy is very common. The amount of peanut antibodies in the blood is not a hard measure of the severity of the reactions. In children, an amount of 12 kU is considered an indication of peanut allergy. Examples of ingredients and products that (may) contain peanut/earnuts:

• flavourings and herbal preparations;
• cooking and frying products;
• peanut butter cookies;
• broth;
• chili con carne;
• crisps;
• chocolate/ chocolates;
• curries;
• desserts;
• dressings;
• gado-gado;
• ice cream;
• ready-made dishes;
• katjang / kacang;
• cake;
• spice mixes;
• m&m’s/choco peanuts;
• margarine;
• marinade;
• mixtures of seeds and kernels;
• nougat;
• cereals/muesli;
• oriental dishes (Chinese and Thai cuisine);

• peanut butter;
• vegetable fat/oil;
• salad;
• sambal;
• satay (sauce);
• sauces;
• serundeng;
• snacks;
• sweets;
• soups;
• surrogate coffee;
• cake;
• vegetarian meat substitutes;
• meat(ware)/wurst;
• saltines;

Peanut-derived ingredients can be found in machine dishwashing detergents and laundry detergents, hand soaps, shampoos, lotions, ointments and creams, shaving cream, cosmetics, metal polish, bleaches, ink and car polish.Symptoms of peanut allergy: The most common reactions after eating peanut are skin symptoms and angioedema. Skin symptoms can include:

• hives (urticaria) acute as well as chronic;
• hives; this is the most acute reaction with intense itching;
• atopic eczema
• fluid accumulation under the skin; when you draw lines on the skin, they remain visible.

Angioedema can occur all over the body, with localised fluid accumulation in the face in particular: under the eyes, on the lips and in the cheeks (cheek pouches). In the throat area, life-threatening glottisoedema may occur. This severely impedes breathing.Airway complaints manifest as:

• inflamed nasal mucosa;
• Coughing or tickling cough;
• sneezing;
• audible or wheezing;
• tightness of the chest;
• mucus formation;
• asthma.

Anaphylaxis, severe generalised reactions throughout the body, manifested as:

• initial tingling in mouth, throat, cheeks or tongue;
• Local hives (urticaria);
• Then reactions in many organs;
• often with predominant severe asthma;
• finally, a drop in blood pressure;
• shock.

Notes: Peanut may also be listed as:

• groundnut;
• peanut;
• oil nut;
• groundnut or arachid;
• Peanut oil may be found in vegetable oil;
• some types of margarine contain peanut oil.

Peanut oil is used as a carrier for certain flavourings or fat-soluble vitamins.