A LIFE-THREATENING ALLERGY - HYPERSENSITI VITY TO PEANUTS

Hypersensitivity to peanuts is observed increasingly frequently in all ergological assessments, even in young infants. This growing prevalenc e, still incompletely understood, carries a certain risk, as cases of fatal anaphylactic shock have been described and longitudinal studies suggest that this allergy does not tend to disappear with time. The au thors describe the nature of the allergen, the possible modalities of sensitization, the risks involved, particularly when the allergen is m asked, and the recommended management once the diagnosis has been esta blished.