This parenting hack has prevented 60,000 kids from developing peanut allergies in the last decade

Peanuts for prevention.

New research suggests that medical advice introduced a decade ago has successfully helped 60,000 children avoid this life-threatening allergy.

“I can actually come to you today and say there are fewer kids with food allergy today than there would have been if we hadn’t implemented this public health effort,” said Dr. David Hill, an allergist and researcher at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and author of a study published Monday in the medical journal Pediatrics.

More than six million people in the U.S. have an allergy to peanuts, according to Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE). Getty Images/iStockphoto

For years, doctors recommended waiting until age 3 to introduce peanuts and other foods likely to trigger allergies.

BUT in 2015, the groundbreaking Learning Early About Peanut Allergy (LEAP) trial found that introducing peanut products in infancy reduced the risk of developing allergies by more than 80%.

Further research established that in 70% of children, this protective function persisted into adolescence.

In accordance we these findings, the National Institutes of Health reversed their advice on peanuts, and parents were told to introduce peanut-containing foods into the diets of babies as young as 4 to 6 months in the hopes of reducing their risk for allergy.

And it seems the advice was right on the money, or shell as it were.

In this latest study, Hill and his team analyzed the health records of dozens of pediatricians to track and diagnose food allergies in children before, during, and after the current guidelines were introduced.

The team found that peanut allergies in children 3 and under decreased by more than 27% after guidance for high-risk kids was issued in 2015 and by more than 40% after the recommendations were expanded in 2017.

“Our findings have relevance, from those of us who treat patients to those caring for infants, and more awareness, education, and advocacy could further increase the positive results we observed in this study,” Hill said.

A peanut allergy develops when the immune system reacts to major proteins found in peanuts as if they are harmful invaders. Getty Images/iStockphoto

“Future studies could potentially explore specific feeding practices that help us better understand the timing, frequency, and dose of foods that optimize protection against food allergies.”

More than six million people in the U.S. have an allergy to peanuts, according to Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE).

A peanut allergy develops when the immune system reacts to major proteins found in peanuts as if they are harmful invaders. The immune system fights off the proteins, resulting in a wide range of symptoms that can impact multiple body systems, including skin, gastrointestinal, respiratory or cardiovascular.

Symptoms can include hives; skin redness or swelling; itching or tingling in the throat or mouth; runny nose; red, watery eyes; swelling of the tongue and/or lips; eye swelling; nasal congestion; stomach cramps and/or abdominal pain; diarrhea; nausea or vomiting; difficulty breathing and/or wheezing.

Peanut allergy is the most common allergy associated with anaphylaxis, which is a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction.

While the LEAP trial inspired new guidelines, putting them into practice has been slow, or crunchy, if you will. Surveys found that only 29% of pediatricians and 65% of allergists reported following the expanded guidance.

Guidelines say peanut butter can be spread thinly, or mixed with breastmilk, formula or puree. Health officials warn that whole peanuts or chopped peanuts can cause choking hazards.

A recent study found that though parents have been advised to give their infants peanuts, many still worry about exposing their kids to the legume.

However, the new research offers “promising evidence that early allergen introduction is not only being adopted but may be making a measurable impact,” the authors concluded.

Hill and other experts recommend parents contact their pediatricians with any questions and concerns related to allergies and food introduction.