Study Finds 34.8% of Infants Diagnosed With Peanut Allergy May Not Have the Condition, Prompting Calls for Supervised Retesting

Peanut allergies affect one in 50 children in the US. Families must maintain strict dietary requirements, a process that creates persistent anxiety for many households.

Physicians diagnose the condition by reviewing a patient's clinical history. They also use skin or blood tests to identify specific sensitivities.

1. Researchers reported that 34.8% of infants who initially tested positive for a peanut allergy showed no allergic reaction during supervised food challenges.

1. Dr. Tania Elliott noted that 12% of babies in the study of those infants had anaphylaxis. The study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, suggests that over one-third of infants diagnosed with a peanut allergy may not actually have one.

2. Dr. Tania Elliott recommends annual retesting for children with peanut allergies to check if the condition persists. Research indicates that clinical history and standard testing are often insufficient for an accurate diagnosis. In the study, 12% of infants experienced anaphylaxis. Elliott said the food challenge is not something to try at home.

3. According to LiveScience, a diagnosis of a peanut allergy in infancy can result in years of dietary restrictions or medical treatments intended to build tolerance in the child.