Advances In Food Allergy Research Presented At 2006 AAAAI Annual Meeting In Miami Beach

Peanut allergic people, particularly teenagers, need to know the risks of kissing someone who has recently eaten peanut, even if they brushed their teeth, according to a new study presented today at the 2006 Annual Meeting of the AAAAI in Miami Beach.

Jennifer M. Maloney, MD, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY, and colleagues looked to find out how much peanut allergen was in saliva following a meal. Their study also measured the level of peanut allergen in saliva after people attempted to remove it via brushing their teeth. Ten people ate 2 tablespoons of peanut butter (sandwich) and saliva was collected at different times afterward. At another time, samples were collected following a meal and again immediately after cleaning the teeth.

Allergen levels became undetectable in all subjects within 4-plus hours without any intervention, and by one hour after the meal, the level in saliva from 6 of the 7 subjects became undetectable. However, the teeth cleaning or rinsing after eating the meal didn't immediately drop the allergen levels down to below detection.

The study concluded that practical advice may include brushing teeth, plus waiting a number of hours before kissing, but added that a larger group must be studied before issuing recommendations.

Teen allergy sufferers admit to risk-taking

A sizeable number of food-allergic teens admit to risk-taking that varies by social circumstances and perceived risks, according to a new study presented today at the 2006 Annual Meeting of the AAAAI in Miami Beach.

Scott H. Sicherer, MD, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, and colleagues looked to identify why adolescents and young adults are at high risk for fatal food anaphylaxis. Participants, of which 49 percent male, were 13-21 years of age, with three-quarters suffering from peanut allergy or 2 or more allergies, 82% having anaphylaxis and 52% more than three lifetime reactions.

Nearly three-quarters (74%) said they always carry epinephrine, but that percentage varied during activities (ranging from 94% when traveling to 43% when playing sports). Three-quarters said they always read food labels, but 42% said they would eat a food labeled "may contain" an allergen. Teens don't always tell their friends about their food allergies (60% do) and 68% feel educating their friends would make living with food allergy easier. The results imply educating teens, and people around them in social activities, may reduce risk-taking and its consequences.

Patients report lack of EAI follow-up, awareness of food allergy severity by their doctors

Adults who suffered a severe reaction due to a food allergy and were prescribed epinephrine auto injectors (EAIs) report a lack of follow-up, and say their doctors aren't aware of the severity of their food allergy, according to a new study presented today at the 2006 Annual Meeting of the AAAAI in Miami Beach.

James S. Kong, MD, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, and colleagues interviewed 29 adults with food allergies, with 20 of the people getting emergency care after a severe reaction to food. Fourteen were prescribed EAIs, and 7 of the 9 people who didn't go to an emergency room received EAIs. Nine of the 21 people have used the EAI since that reaction, and only 76% of the people prescribed EAIs were trained to use them (however only 68% of those people demonstrated they could correctly use the EAI). Ten percent said their doctor reviews how to use the EAI, while 85% of the patients said doctors told them to use antihistamines to treat future reactions, 24% were told to use antihistamines as the sole treatment, and 21% to use them before using epinephrine. Nearly one-third (32%) of the people said they did not think their current doctor knew the severity of their food allergy.

Out of the 20 patients who have a plan of action in place for another reaction, only 45% would use epinephrine, 55% would go to an emergency department, and 70% would take antihistamines.

Risk of Peanut Allergy Associated with High Household Exposure to Peanut in Infancy

Exposure to peanut during infancy promotes sensitization, but low levels may protect atopic children, according to a new study presented today at the 2006 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) in Miami Beach.

Adam T. Fox, MD, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom, and colleagues hypothesized that peanut sensitization occurs as a result of exposure. The study was a survey of children with suspected peanut allergy and also looked to see what affect early exposure to peanuts had on the children for later allergy. Questions on the survey ranged from how much peanut the mother ate during pregnancy to how much peanut was eaten by other family members during the child's first year of life.

Exposure was compared in three groups of children of the same age: Children with peanut allergy, children with egg allergy but not peanut sensitized and non-allergic children. The average weekly peanut consumption for the allergic children was 77.2g, while the totally non-allergic children averaged 29.1g.

The study concluded that exposure to peanuts during infancy promotes sensitization, and that low levels may protect atopic children. In addition, researchers didn't observe any signs that mothers eating peanuts during pregnancy or breast feeding lead to the children developing the allergy.

These studies were presented at the 2006 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI). The AAAAI is the largest professional medical specialty organization in the United States representing allergists, asthma specialists, clinical immunologists, allied health professionals and others with special interest in the research and treatment of allergic disease. Allergy/immunology specialists are pediatric or internal medicine physicians who have elected an additional two years of training to become specialized in the treatment of asthma, allergy and immunologic disease. Established in 1943, the AAAAI has more than 6,300 members in the United States, Canada and 60 other countries. The AAAAI serves as an advocate for the public by providing educational information through its Web site http://www.aaaai.org, and its Physician Referral and Information Line at (800) 822-2762.

American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI)
http://www.aaaai.org