Health
10 surprising facts about peanut allergies, according to a pediatric immunologist
More than six million people in the U.S. have an allergy to peanuts, according to Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE).
Nearly 1.6 million of these sufferers are kids and teens.
“The recent news of deaths and peanut allergies reminds us that consumers are choosing avoidance over cutting-edge therapies that might have saved their lives,” said Dr. Rani Maskatia, a pediatric and adult allergist and immunologist in California.
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Maskatia, who is also medical director with Latitude Food Allergy Care, a network of clinics providing testing and treatment for food allergies, shared with Fox News Digital 10 surprising facts about peanut allergies.
1. A peanut allergy results from an immune system reaction
A peanut allergy develops when the immune system reacts to major proteins found in peanuts as if they are harmful invaders, according to Maskatia.
More than six million people in the U.S. have an allergy to peanuts, according to Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE) — and nearly 1.6 million of them are kids and teens. (iStock)
“The immune system fights off the proteins, resulting in a wide range of symptoms, sometimes impacting multiple systems of the body — skin, gastrointestinal, respiratory or cardiovascular,” she said.
2. It’s unclear why peanut allergies are becoming more common
Cases of peanut allergy have steadily increased in recent history, Maskatia said.
“This may result from many variables in our society — from environmental changes to shifts in our diets over the generations and even decades of (now outdated) recommendations to avoid peanut-based foods altogether in very young children,” he said.
3. Peanut allergy reactions are usually the result of accidental ingestion
Despite increased awareness, accidental exposures continue to occur, Maskatia noted.
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“Even if a certain food does not intentionally contain peanuts, cross-contact (i.e., accidental contact with peanuts) can still result in an allergic reaction,” she warned.
4. There are varied symptoms of peanut allergies
An allergic reaction to peanuts can manifest in a wide range of symptoms, from mild discomfort to severe life-threatening anaphylaxis, according to Maskatia.
An allergic reaction to peanuts can manifest in a wide range of symptoms, from mild discomfort to severe life-threatening anaphylaxis. (iStock)
Symptoms can include hives; skin redness or swelling; itching or tingling in the throat or mouth; runny nose; red, watery eyes; swelling of the tongue and/or lips; eye swelling; nasal congestion; stomach cramps and/or abdominal pain; diarrhea; nausea or vomiting; difficulty breathing and/or wheezing.
5. Children and adults with peanut allergies are at risk for anaphylaxis
Peanut allergy is the most common allergy associated with anaphylaxis, which is a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction.
Signs of anaphylaxis can include pale or bluish tint on the skin, throat constriction, shortness of breath and/or wheezing, difficulty breathing, confusion and/or dizziness, and a weak and rapid pulse.
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“Although fatalities are very rare, if anaphylaxis occurs, access to immediate medical treatment is critical,” Maskatia advised.
“Everyone with a doctor-diagnosed peanut allergy should create an emergency anaphylaxis plan to minimize response time, including carrying two epinephrine auto-injectors accessible at all times.”
6. Testing and diagnosis can begin in infancy
Babies as young as four months old can be tested for peanut allergies, Maskatia noted.
“Testing that includes blood work and skin testing can ensure that diagnoses are as accurate as possible,” she told Fox News Digital.
“Testing that includes blood work and skin testing can ensure that diagnoses are as accurate as possible,” an allergist told Fox News Digital. (iStock)
“Blood work may consist of specific IgE tests and component testing, which help distinguish which proteins in the peanut a patient might be most likely to react to.”
7. A peanut allergy diagnosis doesn’t always mean all nuts must be avoided
Peanuts are actually legumes, which means other types of nuts — such as walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts and cashews — are often safe to eat, according to Maskatia.
“However, since it is possible to be allergic to both peanuts and to tree nuts and seeds, a clinical evaluation with an allergist is advised,” she said.
Peanuts are actually legumes, which means other types of nuts — such as walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts and cashews — are often safe to eat, according to an expert. (iStock)
“Once the patient has clarity about which foods are allergies, they should freely eat the foods they are not allergic to, ensuring diversity of diet and reducing the risk of future sensitizations to other foods.”
8. An allergic reaction could be triggered by non-food items
Peanut proteins can also be present in vitamins, medications, skin creams, cosmetics, sunscreen, craft materials, toy stuffing, pet food, bird feed and even ant baits or mousetraps, Maskatia warned.
9. An allergy can be outgrown over time
If you suspect you’ve outgrown a peanut allergy, follow-up testing with an allergist is recommended, Maskatia said.
“If an allergist suspects through blood work and skin tests that you might have outgrown the allergy, an oral food challenge may be recommended,” she said.
Peanut allergy is the most common allergy associated with anaphylaxis, which is a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. (iStock)
An oral food challenge is a step-by-step process in which the patient — under the supervision of a trained clinician — consumes small amounts of a suspected allergen over a period of three to four hours.
“This is done with the expectation that you’ll be able to consume the peanuts safely,” Maskatia said.
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“Conversely, because peanut allergies can have severe or life-threatening reactions, failing to obtain a clinical diagnosis when there is a suspected history of reaction can present significant health and safety risks,” she warned.
10. Peanut allergies can be treated
Maskatia recommends a treatment called oral immunotherapy (OIT), which she said is approximately 85% effective for single or multiple food allergies and is safe for all ages.
“It is expected that in the next decade, there will be more treatment options for people with peanut allergies.”
“Over time, the OIT process continually exposes the patient to increasing amounts of an allergen,” she said.
“The body is gradually desensitized and learns to adapt to the allergen. This decreases dietary restrictions and increases protection against severe or life-threatening reactions due to accidental exposure.”
Palforzia is an FDA-approved drug for peanut allergy treatment, Maskatia pointed out, and the FDA also recently approved Xolair (omalizumab) for treating all food allergies, including peanut allergy.
“It is expected that in the next decade, there will be more treatment options for people with peanut allergies,” she said.
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As colorectal cancer (CRC) is now the leading cause of cancer death in adults under 50, a new report reveals some surprising shifts in the incidence of the disease.
Although rates of CRC have been declining among seniors, those 65 and under are facing a rise in diagnoses, according to a report titled Colorectal Cancer Statistics, 2026, from the American Cancer Society.
Adults 65 and younger comprise nearly half (45%) of all new colorectal cancer cases — a significant increase from 27% in 1995, states the report, which was published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.
The disease is rising fastest among adults 20 to 49 years old, at a rate of 3% per year.
Colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer death in adults under 50. (iStock)
Among adults 50 and under, 75% of colorectal cancers are diagnosed at an advanced stage. Half of the diagnoses in that age range are made between the ages of 45 and 49. Although that age group is eligible to receive routine screenings, just 37% do so.
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The report also revealed that rectal cancer is on the rise, now accounting for about one-third (32%) of all CRC cases — an increase from 27% in the mid-2000s.
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“After decades of progress, the risk of dying from colorectal cancer is climbing in younger generations of men and women, confirming a real uptick in disease because of something we’re doing or some other exposure,” said Rebecca Siegel, senior scientific director, surveillance research at the American Cancer Society and lead author of the report, in a press release.
Among adults 50 and under, 75% of colorectal cancers are diagnosed at an advanced stage. Half of the diagnoses in that age range are made between the ages of 45 and 49. (iStock)
“We need to redouble research efforts to understand the cause, but also circumvent deaths through earlier detection by educating clinicians and the general public about symptoms and increasing screening in people 45-54 years.”
It is projected that 158,850 new cases of colorectal cancer will be diagnosed this year, and that the disease will cause 55,230 deaths, per the report.
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More than half of CRC cases can be linked to high-risk behaviors, the researchers said. Those include lack of nutrition, high alcohol consumption, smoking, lack of exercise and obesity.
“These findings further underscore that colorectal cancer is worsening among younger generations and highlight the immediate need for eligible adults to begin screening at the recommended age of 45,” said Dr. William Dahut, chief scientific officer at the American Cancer Society.
When the disease is caught at a local (early) stage, the five-year survival rate is 95%. (iStock)
“The report also shines a light on the crucial importance of continued funding for research to help discover new therapies to treat the disease and advance patient care.”
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When the disease is caught at a local (early) stage, the five-year survival rate is 95%, the report stated.
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A new study suggests that middle-aged men may be more vulnerable to faster biological aging, potentially linked to exposure to “forever chemicals.”
The research, published in the journal Frontiers in Aging, examined how perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, more commonly known as PFAS, could impact aging at the cellular level.
PFAS are synthetic chemicals commonly used in nonstick cookware, food packaging, water-resistant fabrics and other consumer products, the study noted.
Their chemical structure makes them highly resistant to breaking down, allowing them to accumulate in water, soil and the human body.
Chinese researchers analyzed blood samples from 326 adults enrolled in the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 1999 and 2000.
A new study suggests that middle-aged men could face accelerated biological aging at the cellular level due to exposure to PFAS. (iStock)
The researchers measured levels of 11 PFAS compounds in participants’ blood and used DNA-based “epigenetic clocks” — tools that analyze chemical changes to DNA to estimate biological age — to determine how quickly their bodies were aging at the cellular level, the study stated.
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Two compounds, perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluorooctanesulfonamide (PFOSA), were detected in 95% of participants.
Higher concentrations of those chemicals were associated with faster biological aging in men of certain age groups, but not in women.
“People should not panic.”
The compounds most strongly linked to accelerated aging were not the PFAS chemicals that typically receive the most public attention, the researchers noted.
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“The associations were strongest in adults aged 50 to 64, particularly in men,” Dr. Xiangwei Li, professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine and the study’s corresponding author, told Fox News Digital.
“While this does not establish that PFAS cause aging, it suggests that these widely present ‘forever chemicals’ may be linked to molecular changes related to long-term health and aging.”
The study found that two of the compounds were detected in 95% of participants, and higher levels were linked to faster biological aging in men ages 50–64. (iStock)
Midlife may represent a more sensitive biological period, when the body becomes more vulnerable to age-related stressors, according to the researchers.
Lifestyle factors, such as smoking, may influence biological aging markers, potentially increasing vulnerability to environmental pollutants.
While Li said “people should not panic,” she does recommend looking for reasonable ways to reduce exposure.
That might mean checking local drinking water reports, using certified water filters designed to reduce PFAS, and limiting the use of stain- or grease-resistant products when alternatives are available.
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Meaningful reductions in PFAS exposure will likely depend on broader regulatory action and environmental cleanup efforts, Li added.
The researchers noted that midlife could be a particularly sensitive stage, when the body is more susceptible to stressors associated with aging. (iStock)
Study limitations
The researchers outlined several important limitations of the research, including that the findings show an association, but do not prove that PFAS directly causes accelerated aging.
“The study is cross-sectional, meaning exposure and aging markers were measured at the same time, so we cannot determine causality,” Li told Fox News Digital.
The study was also relatively small, limited to 326 adults age 50 or older, which means the findings may not apply to younger people or broader populations.
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Researchers measured PFAS levels using data collected between 1999 and 2000, and today’s exposure patterns may differ.
Li added that while PFAS is known to persist in the environment and the body, these results should be validated through larger, more recent studies that follow participants over time.
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