A recent study has shown that toddlers built up a tolerance to small amounts of peanut proteins thanks to a simple skin patch, which helped prevent the progression of a potentially deadly allergy. More than 70% of the toddlers were able to tolerate 3-4 peanut kernels after a 3-year course of treatment. The findings, from an FDA-registered, long-term, phase 3 clinical trial offered encouraging news for parents of the one child in 50 born every year with the susceptibility to peanut allergies. The goal is to train the immune system to tolerate peanut exposure and reduce the risk of severe allergic reactions from accidental ingestion. The most common side effect was skin irritation at the patch site, which became less frequent over time. Children’s reactions during food challenges also became milder, with fewer severe symptoms after 3 years. The findings add to growing evidence that early intervention in young children helps change the course of peanut allergy development. Researchers stress that parents should not attempt any form of peanut desensitization at home, and should discuss emerging treatment options with a qualified allergist.
