Peanut allergies have become a growing concern, especially in schools. To keep children with peanut allergies safe, many schools have banned peanut butter and other peanut products. You may be wondering — just how common are peanut allergies? In this article, we’ll explain how common peanut allergies are, why they’re a concern, and what you need to know to stay informed and safe.

Why Are Peanut Allergies So Common?

About 2.2 percent of children in the United States have a peanut allergy, so it’s still one of the most common food allergies. Rates went up for many years, but newer studies show peanut allergy rates may be starting to drop in very young children now that doctors encourage introducing peanut butter and other peanut products earlier.

About 2.2 percent of children in the United States have a peanut allergy, so it’s still one of the most common food allergies.

There are several theories as to why allergies to peanuts and other foods are so common in children. One theory is that damage to the skin barrier, which protects the body from allergens, may play a role. Chemicals in detergents and synthetic fabrics may irritate the skin and weaken its protective layer, which can make children’s skin dry and easier to damage.

Another theory is that kids today don’t eat a variety of different foods at a young age, including peanuts and other foods that can cause allergies. Children in urban areas often spend less time around animals. This may mean less early exposure to helpful germs that support a healthy gut. However, keep in mind that these theories aren’t fully proven yet.

Other Questions About Food Allergies

Peanut allergies can be serious, so it helps to know how to keep someone safe around them. Below, we address answers to common questions about peanut allergies.

1. Are Peanuts Nuts?

Despite their name, peanuts aren’t actually nuts — they’re legumes. Peanuts grow in a pod and are related to soybeans and lentils. Both nuts and legumes contain protein, but the specific proteins found in peanuts can trigger reactions in people who are allergic.

2. How Long Does a Peanut Allergy Reaction Last?

Allergic reactions to peanuts happen when a person’s immune system mistakes peanut proteins for something that could harm the body. Symptoms of a food allergy reaction can differ in how long they take to start and how long they last. Some reactions may occur in a few minutes, while others may take a couple of hours to develop.

Peanut allergy reactions can cause a wide range of allergy symptoms that can vary from person to person, including:

• Skin hives and discoloration
• Itchy or tingling mouth or throat
• Stomach cramps, vomiting, or diarrhea
• Shortness of breath or tightness in the throat
• Runny nose
• Anaphylaxis — A life-threatening reaction that can cause the throat to close and blood pressure to drop

A mild reaction to peanuts doesn’t always mean the next one will also be mild. In fact, a mild reaction can sometimes be followed by a life-threatening one. It’s hard to predict how a food allergy will affect someone each time.

3. Can You Develop a Peanut Allergy Later in Life?

Peanut allergies can develop at any time in a person’s life, even as an adult. This is less common, but it can still happen. One MyFoodAllergyTeam member shared, “My mother, my uncle, and another person I know all developed the allergy in their 30s or 40s. I’m in my 40s, so I’m concerned that I could eventually develop one.”

4. Are Peanut Allergies Linked to Other Allergies?

Peanut allergies are often linked to other food allergies. Although peanuts don’t grow on trees, approximately 40 percent of children with allergies to tree nuts (such as walnuts, almonds, pecans, or cashews) are also allergic to peanuts.

Having a peanut allergy doesn’t usually increase the risk of being allergic to other legumes. However, peanut allergies do raise the risk of being allergic to lupin, also known as lupine or lupini beans, which are common in Mediterranean cuisines.

Peanut allergies may also be linked to egg allergies and atopic dermatitis, the most common form of eczema.

5. Are Peanut and Tree Nut Allergies the Most Dangerous?

Peanut and tree nut allergies are serious because they can lead to anaphylactic shock — also known as anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is a potentially life-threatening reaction that can quickly cause the respiratory system to shut down.

While death from anaphylaxis is rare, peanut allergies are a leading cause of fatal and near-fatal anaphylactic shock. Peanut and tree nut allergies aren’t the only allergies that can cause anaphylaxis. Other common triggers of anaphylaxis include fish, shellfish, sesame, soy, milk, and wheat allergies.

Research shows that about 54 percent of children who had a severe initial reaction to peanuts will have at least one more during their lifetime. Another small study found that as many as 52 percent of children had life-threatening anaphylaxis symptoms within five years of their first peanut allergy reaction. Research from 2019 found that 23 percent of children with peanut allergies receive emergency care for severe reactions every year.

6. Does a History of Asthma Raise the Risk for a Fatal Reaction?

While reactions from exposure to peanuts can be life-threatening, fatalities are rare. One large-scale study showed that people with a history of asthma are at a higher risk of a fatal peanut allergy reaction. However, it’s important to note that most food allergy-related deaths happen to people whose past allergic reactions were mild.

While reactions from exposure to peanuts can be life-threatening, fatalities are rare.

7. Is Emergency Planning Essential?

If you or your child has a peanut allergy, it’s important to be prepared for anaphylactic shock with an emergency plan because the severity of allergic reactions is unpredictable. Your doctor can help you create an emergency plan that you can share with other caretakers. This plan should include key information about your child’s allergy and any necessary medication.

An emergency epinephrine auto-injector should always be on hand in case of accidental exposure to peanuts or other allergens. Your doctor can show you how to use it.

“​​I recently bought my daughter her own medical bag, which carries her EpiPen and cetirizine,” One MyFoodAllergyTeam member shared. “It has all her information and my contact number. I also bought her a peanut allergy bracelet, which she loves! I’ve found that the bag helps reduce her anxiety, as she always has her medicine with her just in case she comes into contact with peanuts.”

8. Is Accidental Exposure to Peanuts a Serious Risk?

Many children experience an allergic reaction due to cross-contact, which happens when peanut products such as peanut butter, peanut flour, or another allergen are accidentally transferred to another food. Cross-contact can occur even with tiny amounts of peanut protein.

To prevent any chance of cross-contact, it’s essential to clean all kitchen items with warm, soapy water, rinse well with clean water, and let them air dry. Always wash your hands with soap and water before preparing food.

Trace amounts of peanut protein can end up in foods that don’t contain peanuts. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires food labels to list major food allergens, such as peanuts, or to warn if there is a risk that the food has come in contact with an allergen during manufacturing.

Foods that have a high risk of containing peanuts or cross-contact with peanuts include:

• Candy and ice cream
• Certain dishes in African, Mexican, or Asian cuisines, such as groundnut stews, mole, or peanut sauces
• Baked goods, such as cookies
• Certain sauces, glazes, and marinades

Be sure to discuss cross-contact with restaurants and schools. While the term “cross-contamination” is sometimes used for allergens, it’s important to know that in the restaurant business, cross-contamination implies that the contaminant can be killed by heat. This isn’t the case with an allergen.

9. Do Some Children Outgrow Peanut Allergies?

Although many people have lifelong peanut allergies, studies from the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology show that about 20 percent of children with peanut allergies will eventually outgrow them. However, it’s important to work carefully with your doctor for supervised allergy testing to determine if an allergy has been outgrown, rather than trying to test this yourself.

Although many people have lifelong peanut allergies, about 20 percent of children with peanut allergies will eventually outgrow them.

10. Can Peanut Allergies Be Effectively Managed?

The key to managing a peanut allergy is prevention. This means avoiding contact with peanuts by:

• Always reading ingredient lists
• Consistently being careful when preparing food
• Having a good emergency plan in case of a severe allergic reaction

Treatment options for mild allergy reactions to peanuts include antihistamines and corticosteroids (steroids).

You may want to discuss newer treatments with your allergist, who can help you learn about the latest options available for managing peanut allergies.

One newer option is immunotherapy, which slowly exposes children to peanut proteins in order to train the immune system not to overreact. Peanut oral immunotherapy (OIT) is not a cure for peanut allergies and is not designed to introduce peanut products into a child’s diet. However, OIT can help some children avoid serious reactions if they’re accidentally exposed to peanut protein. Palforzia is the first oral immunotherapy treatment approved by the FDA.

Newer therapies have been developed to treat peanut allergies. One example is omalizumab (Xolair), an injected biologic drug. This medication is a human-made version of a protein in the immune system and works by targeting the protein responsible for setting off allergic reactions. Omalizumab could help prevent the processes that lead to allergic reactions and life-threatening anaphylaxis. Omalizumab has been shown in clinical immunology research to quickly reduce a person’s sensitivity to peanuts, offering hope for better allergy management in the future.

Talk With an Allergist

Peanut allergies are still common and can be serious. For babies who don’t already have a peanut allergy, doctors now often encourage introducing peanut foods early, because it may lower the chance of developing one. But if you or your child does have a peanut allergy, the goal is to avoid peanuts, read labels closely, and keep emergency medicine nearby. An allergist can help you figure out the safest plan for your situation and talk through treatment options.

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On MyFoodAllergyTeam, people share their experiences with food allergies, get advice, and find support from others who understand.

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