Hospital Feeds Children Peanuts to Cure Peanut Allergy

An experimental therapy proved feeding children the very thing their bodies are allergic to helps build tolerance and overcome reactions. Doctors at Addenbrooke' hospital, Cambridge administered 2-milligrams of the peanut powder in the volunteer's food who were aged between seven and 16. Slowly they increased the amount to 800 mg and observed them for dangerous side effects.  After six months 80% of the 99 participating children could safely eat up to five peanuts which was 25 times the amount they could tolerate before the experiment.

Study leader Andrew Clark from Cambridge University Hospitals said the treatment works by retraining the patient's immune system to slowly develop tolerance even though, it may take years.

"The treatment allowed children with all severities of peanut allergy to eat large quantities of peanuts, well above the levels found in contaminated snacks and meals, freeing them and their parents from the fear of a potentially life threatening allergic reaction," said Clark who along with colleagues plans to conduct treatments in allergy clinics. Families of the subjects involved in the experiment were overwhelmed by the results.

Peanut allergy is a globally rising fatal food allergy, affecting about one out of every 50 children. Symptoms include swelling of the mouth, shortness of breath and anaphylactic shock. Until now, the only way to avoid reaction was by avoiding its consumption.

Although the researchers find this experiment encouraging, they stress researching more and the treatment should not be conducted by parents at home.

Mathew Greenhawt from the University of Michigan Food Allergy Center wrote in a comment carried by The Lancet: "Exceptionally promising but years away from routine clinical news."  Considering the failure of previous research for milk allergies, he said it was unknown if peanut therapy could produce lasting effects.

The study was sponsored by Britain's Medical Research Council and National Institute for Health Research.