What is a peanut allergy?
A peanut allergy is a reaction by your child’s immune system to peanuts. Our immune systems normally respond to bacteria or viruses that attack the body. With a food allergy, the body’s immune system attacks harmless things, such as the proteins found in peanuts. Peanuts are among the 8 foods that are responsible for most food allergies in children. The other foods include milk, soy, eggs, tree nuts (such as walnuts and cashews), wheat, fish, and shellfish. Many children grow out of food allergies to egg, milk, or soy, but it is rare to grow out of peanut or tree nut allergies. Most health care providers warn not to feed your child shellfish and food containing peanuts and tree nuts, until age 2. If you have family history of allergies, some recommend waiting until 3 years.
