Researchers from Cambridge University have successfully treated a small group of children with peanut allergy through a desensitization technique. The children were given daily doses of peanut flour with the dose increasing by a small amount twice a week. By the end they were able to eat 10 whole peanuts without having an allergic reaction. This research is important as there is currently no treatment for peanut allergy. Those with peanut allergy should not try to do this without medical supervision as there is a real risk that a person will react and need emergency treatment. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America estimates that peanut allergy is the most common cause of food-related death.
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Tags: allergy, asthma, Cambridge, desensitization, food-related death, peanut
Dr. Steven Chang, the author of DailyDose, is a staff physician with Kosmix RightHealth. Dr. Chang practices Family Medicine at the University of California Davis Medical Center, where his medical interests include both pediatric and geriatric care, public health, gay and lesbian health, and sleep medicine. Dr. Chang trained at the Stanford University affiliated O'Connor Hospital, and was a research fellow at the National Institute of Health. He holds an M.D. from McGill University and a BA in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University.
February 26th, 2009 at 10:29 am
I wonder if this can be done (in small doses) with Gluten for those with Celiac Disease AKA Intolerance to all things Gluten???
September 15th, 2009 at 12:42 am
This seems to verify the principles of Homeopathy, in which a minute amount of a substance which would induce the symptoms would cure the ailment.