Peanut and nut allergy

BMJ 1996;313:299 (3 August)

Letters

Peanut and nut allergy

Creams and ointments containing peanut oil may lead to sensitisation

EDITOR,--Pamela W Ewan suggests that peanut allergy in childrenis due to the ingestion of peanut butter before the age of 1year but acknowledges that some children react after their firstknown exposure.¹ She supposes that minute amounts of allergenmight be present in breast milk or hidden in foods, but it isnot widely appreciated that arachis oil (peanut oil) is presentin many preparations that are applied topically. Breast feedingmothers often treat sore nipples with chamomile ointment, themain ingredient of which is arachis oil. Presumably some ofthis is ingested by the infant, which could lead to sensitisation.

Children might also become sensitised to peanut allergen throughskin contact. Despite the name, zinc and castor oil ointment,which is often used to treat napkin dermatitis, is 30% peanutoil. Napkin eruptions are common in children . . . [Full text of this article]

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Relevant Article

Clinical study of peanut and nut allergy in 62 consecutive patients: new features and associations: Pamela W Ewan
BMJ 1996 312: 1074-1078. [Abstract] [Full Text]

This article has been cited by other articles:

Lack, G., Fox, D., Northstone, K., Golding, J., the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Childre, (2003). Factors Associated with the Development of Peanut Allergy in Childhood. NEJM 348: 977-985 [Abstract] [Full text]