A panel of experts issued new clinical guidelines on Thursday recommending infants be introduced to peanut-containing foods to prevent the development of a dangerous allergy.
The panel was sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, which is a part of the National Institutes of Health. Peanut allergies are a growing health problem in the U.S. Currently, no treatment or cure for the condition exists.
Infants deemed at risk for developing a peanut allergy because they either have an egg allergy, severe eczema or both should be introduced to peanut-containing food at four to six months, the guidelines suggest. Parents should consult with their physician prior to the introduction of peanuts in these cases. Infants with mild or moderate eczema should be introduced to peanut-containing foods around six months. Babies born without eczema or any food allergy should have peanut-containing foods liberally introduced into their diets. All infants should first be introduced to other solid foods prior to the integration of peanuts.
"Living with peanut allergy requires constant vigilance. Preventing the development of peanut allergy will improve and save lives and lower health care costs," said Anthony S. Fauci, MD, the director of the NIAID. "We expect that widespread implementation of these guidelines by healthcare providers will prevent the development of peanut allergy in many susceptible children and ultimately reduce the prevalence of peanut allergy in the United States."
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