Are peanut allergies on the decline?

Nearly nine years ago, the National Institutes of Health released clinical guidelines that encouraged the early introduction of allergens, including peanuts, to babies in an attempt to reduce their likelihood of developing a peanut allergy. Now, researchers are reporting a major decrease in peanut allergies since the implementation of those guidelines in 2017.

As part of the new study, which was published in the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Journal called Pediatrics, researchers examined electronic health records of children up to 3 years of age. They noted a 43% decrease in peanut allergies. This is a substantial drop that equates to approximately 60,000 children avoiding the development of the allergy over the past nine years.

“Many parents are often anxious about introducing allergenic foods, like peanut butter, to their baby’s diet out of fear they might react,” says Dr. Maaria Syed, a pediatric allergy and immunology physician at Advocate Children’s Hospital. “However, this research really underscores the importance of the early introduction of allergenic foods. It also highlights the fact that waiting to introduce those foods to a child until they are older could be even riskier.”

Dr. Syed acknowledges how early allergen introduction can be tough for parents to navigate.

“This is especially true for families who already have a child with food allergies, other allergic conditions, like eczema, or new parents who are just getting used to their baby eating in general. It’s important to express your concerns to your pediatrician or see an allergist instead of delaying introduction altogether,” she says.

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