American scientists have carried out a study showing that symptoms such as breathlessness, wheezing and coughing are seen in both asthma and allergy to peanut conditions. They analysed the records of more than 1,500 children from the paediatric respiratory clinic at Mercy Children’s hospital in Toledo, Ohio, and found 1 in 10 tested positive to peanut sensitivity.
However, more than half (53%) of these children and their families were not aware and did not suspect there was any sensitivity to peanuts, as the symptoms are so similar.
The study suggests that children with asthma should benefit from a test for peanut sensitivity, especially when control of wheezing and coughing is difficult to achieve. However, according to EFA Dr. Samantha Walker, director of research and policy at EFA Member Asthma UK, further research is needed to confirm the connection because allergy tests to food are notoriously unreliable and require careful interpretation to confirm a diagnosis of peanut allergy.
For more information please read an article published by The Guardian: http://bit.ly/1PRfygJ
Picture from the US Department of Agriculture for CC: http://bit.ly/1G6bhn2