Scientists have announced that there may be a cure for sufferers of peanut allergies after promising results from an innovative new desensitisation programme. Children who previously could have suffered a fatal blow of anaphylatic shock from eating just one peanut have now been treated for the allergy and can eat peanuts without concern.
The discovery could help thousands of families across the UK who live in constant fear of their child coming into contact with a potentially fatal peanut. The problem of nut allergies has become an ever increasing issue in Britain as one in 50 young people are affected by it, with cases more than doubling in the last four years.
The programme took place at Addenbrooke’s Hospital where 22 children aged seven to 17 embarked on the desensitisation process by eating minuscule 5mg amounts of peanut flour. Slowly over the next six months, this does was increased up to 800mgs a day - approximately five peanuts.
Twelve children were able to consume the largest dose of up to 20 peanuts a day without suffering from any side effects. The results have brought their families hope and ease of mind that the children can lead a
normal life, not in constant fear.
Andy Clark, who headed the research team commented, “Every time people with a peanut allergy eat something, they’re frightened that it might kill them. Our motivation was to find a treatment that would change that and give them the confidence to eat what they like.” He added, “It’s not a permanent cure but as long as they go on taking a daily dose they should maintain their tolerance.”
Each of the 12 children are maintaining their tolerance by eating the equivalent of five peanuts a day. Dr Clark said, “At the moment we know that if they continue to eat five peanuts a day, their tolerance is maintained.”
Dr Clark added that the children would be observed over the next few years in order to keep a check on their tolerance levels and in the future studies may be able to establish whether the dose could be taken in pill form. He added that it is hoped that in three or four years, the body will have developed a more “permanent cure” without the need for a dosage.
The journal Allergy have published the results of the groundbreaking study. Head of allergy at Addenbrooke’s, who oversaw the study commented that scientists had been opposed to using the technique in the past, feeling the risks posed to the children was too high, and parents were advised trying it themselves.
