Peanuts are a popular delicacy worldwide and are found in many foods. Although most people would classify peanuts as a nut, peanuts are the fruit of the peanut (Arachis hypogaea), a legume
. Peanuts have a unique flavor, but also have no small number of drawbacks. They contain allergens that can cause very strong allergic reactions in children and adults. Allergic reactions have a variety of symptoms, and sufferers often experience swelling of mucous membranes and tongue, breathing difficulties, nausea, and, in cases of severe allergy, anaphylaxis.
If you know you are allergic to these fruits, you should make every effort not to eat them. This is because, although food manufacturers are obligated to label allergens, this obligation only applies to packaged goods, and furthermore, even if a packaged product does not directly contain peanuts, there is no 100% guarantee that the food did not come in contact with peanuts during production. The problem is that even trace amounts of peanuts are sufficient to trigger an allergic reaction to peanuts. With regard to
treatment
of this type of allergy, so-called anitihistamines, i.e., drugs that weaken the action of the allergen, are most frequently administered. If a patient has severe allergies, physicians recommend injections containing appropriate drugs and supplementary hormonal agents (especially adrenaline).19] However, researchers have found that the aim of reducing the body\’s reactivity to the relevant allergens, so-called Other treatment modalities, such as specific allergen immunotherapy, are also being considered. However, this approach is relatively time-consuming and involves injections of drugs and is not suitable for all patients. Another method is oral immunotherapy, which aims to build up tolerance by gradually acclimating the patient to small amounts of allergens, requiring the patient to orally ingest (swallow) a certain amount of the allergen. A recent study in the United States tested the use of liquid peanut protein. Liquid peanut protein is applied by simply placing a few drops under the tongue and is absorbed directly through the mucous membranes of the mouth without being swallowed. The major advantage of this method is that it requires much less allergen than the application method and oral immunotherapy.The newly developed method also reduces the incidence of side effects, and when they do occur, they are mild. Although the studies conducted were not as large, many positive results were obtained that have not yet been confirmed in larger clinical trials. The entire process of bringing a new product to patients is long and difficult, involving a series of trials that must prove that its use is effective and, above all, completely safe for the human body. It is hoped, however, that the lives of those suffering from this unpleasant and dangerous allergy will soon be improved.
