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Peanut allergy in relation to heredity, maternal diet, and other atopic diseases: results of a questionnaire survey, skin prick testing, and food challenges

^a Child Health, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton SO16 6YD

Correspondence and reprints to: Professor Warner. jobh{at}soton.ac.uk.

Abstract

Objectives: To determine rates of other atopic manifestations in people with peanut allergy and the prevalence of such allergy in their families.
Design: A survey of people with self reported peanut allergy and people referred by their general practitioner for suspected peanut allergy; survey and skin testing of 50 children with reported peanut allergy and their available first degree relatives.
Subjects: 622 adults and children with reported, suspected, or known peanut allergy.
Main outcome measures: Prevalence of peanut allergy and other allergies in the families of people with peanut allergy.
Results: 622 valid completed questionnaires were returned out of the 833 questionnaires dispatched (74.7%). All forms of atopy were both more common in successive generations (P<0.0001) and more common in maternal than paternal relatives (P<0.0001). Peanut allergy was reported by 0.1% (3/2409) of grandparents, 0.6% (7/1213) of aunts and uncles, 1.6% (19/1218) of parents, and 6.9% (42/610) of siblings. Consumption of peanuts while pregnant or breast feeding was more common among mothers of probands aged </=5 years than mothers of probands aged >5 years (P<0.001). Age of onset correlated inversely with year of birth (r = -0.6, P<0.001). Skin prick testing of 50 children with reported peanut allergy and their families: 7 probands (14%) had a negative result for peanut. Peanut allergy was refuted by food challenge in all those tested (5/7). No parent and 13% (5/39) of siblings had a positive result on skin prick testing for peanut. Two of these siblings had negative challenge with peanuts. The prevalence of peanut allergy in siblings is therefore 3/39 (7%).
Conclusions: Peanut allergy is more common in siblings of people with peanut allergy than in the parents or the general population. Its apparently increasing prevalence may reflect a general increase of atopy, which is inherited more commonly from the mother. Peanut allergy is presenting earlier in life, possibly reflecting increased consumption of peanut by pregnant and nursing mothers.

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