Infants under 12 months with peanut allergies can receive the immunotherapy.
Australia has launched the world’s first immunotherapy sessions for infants with peanut allergies, a severe food reaction that can sometimes be life-threatening. This oral immunotherapy will be introduced in five states, marking its debut in hospitals and outside of clinical trials.
Infants under 12 months with peanut allergies are eligible for the treatment.
The National Allergy Centre of Excellence (NACE) in Australia aims to expand the program if it proves effective.
What is peanut allergy
Peanut allergy is a type of food allergy where the immune system mistakenly identifies peanuts or peanut-containing foods as harmful. This triggers an overreaction from the immune system, leading to a range of symptoms.
These can include mild reactions such as rashes, hives, and itching, to more severe symptoms like vomiting, abdominal pain, swelling, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, a peanut allergy can cause anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening reaction that can lead to a sudden drop in blood pressure, loss of consciousness, and even cardiac arrest if not treated promptly.
What causes the allergy
Peanut allergy is caused by an abnormal immune response to proteins found in peanuts. In individuals with this allergy, the immune system mistakenly identifies these proteins as harmful invaders, triggering an immune reaction.
- Genetic Factors: Genetics play a significant role in the development of peanut allergies. If a child has a family history of allergies or asthma, they are at higher risk of developing a peanut allergy.
- Immune System Response: When a person with a peanut allergy is exposed to peanuts, their immune system produces specific antibodies called Immunoglobulin E (IgE) against peanut proteins. This process is known as sensitization.
- Allergic Reaction: Upon subsequent exposure to peanuts, the IgE antibodies recognize the peanut proteins and prompt immune cells to release histamines and other chemicals. These chemicals cause the symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as itching, swelling, and difficulty breathing.
- Environmental Factors: Factors such as the timing and amount of peanut exposure, dietary habits, and the presence of other allergies or conditions might influence the development of a peanut allergy. For example, early exposure to peanuts might reduce the risk of developing an allergy, as some studies suggest.
In depth
Professor Kirsten Perrett, Director of NACE, noted that there has been no broadly available treatment for peanut allergies until now. She stated that these new therapy sessions are designed “to change the management of the most common food allergy in Australian children.”
“Our goal is to alter the course of allergic diseases in Australia so that more children can attend school without the risk of a life-threatening peanut reaction,” Perrett told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
The treatment involves administering carefully measured doses of peanut powder to infants over time. Eventually, the children will reach a “maintenance dose” that continues for two years before evaluating the treatment’s effectiveness, according to Dr. Tim Brettig, program lead.
Peanut allergy is one of the most common food allergies and occurs when the body mistakenly identifies peanuts or peanut-containing foods as harmful, triggering an immune response. Symptoms can include rashes, vomiting, hives, swelling, sneezing, asthma attacks, abdominal pain, drops in blood pressure, and diarrhea. In severe cases, it can lead to cardiac arrest.
