Peanut allergies have become increasingly common in the United States over the past two decades, affecting one in 50 children and one in 200 adults. While the exact cause of this rise remains unclear, researchers are making progress in developing new ways to help individuals with peanut allergies manage their condition.
One such method involves using a special toothpaste that triggers immune cells in the mouth, potentially preventing severe allergic reactions. By coating the inside of the mouth with peanut protein through tooth brushing, this approach aims to make the body’s response to peanuts less life-threatening. Although these treatments do not provide a cure for peanut allergies, they offer promising ways to manage the condition more effectively.
Another treatment option is oral immunotherapy, which involves gradually increasing doses of peanut flour to retrain the immune system and reduce reactivity to peanuts. Elizabeth Billiter, Kaleb Billeter’s mother, tried this treatment with her son after he broke out in hives as a sign of his allergy. Although it did not completely eliminate Kaleb’s allergy, it did help him tolerate small amounts of peanuts without experiencing an allergic reaction.
Dr. Edwin Kim at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine has also discovered that administering liquid peanut extract under the tongue can desensitize young children to their peanut allergy. In a trial, 80 percent of toddlers were able to tolerate 15 peanuts without experiencing any symptoms by the end of the study. These findings highlight the potential for breakthrough treatments that could improve
