Health
Children can outgrow tree nut allergy
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Nov. 28, 2005
Nine percent of children allergic to almonds, pecans, cashews and other tree nuts outgrow their allergies over time, even if they have had a severe reaction, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins Children's Center in Baltimore, Md.
The study, published in the November Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, also found that clinicians can use blood levels of tree nut antibody as an accurate guideline in estimating the likelihood a child has outgrown the allergy.
"What's crystal clear is that children with these allergies should be regularly re-evaluated," said lead author Robert Wood, MD, director of the Division of Allergy and Immunology at Johns Hopkins Children's Center.
In the United States, an estimated 1% to 2% of the population is allergic to tree nuts, peanuts or both. The researchers had previously reported that as many as 20% of children outgrow peanut allergy and recommended that allergists periodically retest their patients. The current study explored whether the same held true for tree nuts.
Dr. Wood and colleagues evaluated 278 children ages 3 to 21 years old with a known allergy to tree nuts.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2005/11/28/hlbf1128.htm.
