PEANUT ALLERGY IN CHILDREN

Peanut allergy in children is reviewed in the light of data from the l iterature and those provided by 39 recently collected cases. Peanut al lergy represents the second commonest cause of food allergy in childre n. The clinical manifestations are often very dramatic in contrast wit h the more attenuated features of other food allergies. This allergy g radually resolves with age. Peanuts are present throughout the diet, i ncreasingly frequently in a ''hidden'' form. A convincing clinical his tory, defined by Sampson, is sufficient to establish the diagnosis. Th e diagnosis usually requires a labial or oral provocation test. In cer tain clinical situations in children, it is useful to investigate the presence of peanut allergy, even in the absence of any known previous contact. The treatment is essentially based on elimination of peanuts regardless of its form and its presentation, which is increasingly dif ficult in view of the multiple hidden forms of peanuts. When clinical signs appear after accidental peanut consumption, symptomatic treatmen t depends on their severity. Future progress will be based on the deve lopment of ''safe'' desensitization and more precise labelling of food s.