Are peanut allergies increasing?
Research indicates that all allergies are increasing. Peanut allergies are not a new phenomena; however, it is difficult to determine if the increased reports of food allergies in general and peanut allergy in particular are due to actual increases in incidence or a result of increased awareness among consumers and health professionals. How many peanuts are needed to cause a reaction? Recent evidence indicates that even trace amounts of peanuts can be enough to cause a major reaction in those very few individuals who are severely allergic. How are food allergies diagnosed? Diagnosing a food allergy may not be difficult if a person always has the same reaction after eating a certain food. However, foods are generally eaten in combination. It is therefore important to consult a board-certified allergist to determine if the symptoms are caused by food and if so, which one. Food allergies are diagnosed by taking a thorough medical and dietary history, keeping a food diary, eliminating susp
