Peanut Allergy Treatment Succeeds in 82 Percent of Toddlers in Swedish Study

Feeding toddlers small amounts of peanuts over three years can enable many of them to consume peanuts without triggering an allergic reaction, according to a study conducted at Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden. The research involved 75 children aged one to three years with confirmed peanut allergies of varying severity.

Fifty children received peanut puffs that started at a very low dose in a hospital setting and were gradually increased every four to six weeks at home until they reached a maintenance dose of about one and a half peanuts per day. The remaining 25 children avoided peanuts completely.

After three years, 82 percent of the children in the treatment group could eat at least three and a half peanuts without an allergic reaction, even after a four-week break from the treatment. In comparison, only 12 percent of children in the control group could tolerate the same amount.

All children who followed the full protocol reached the goal of eating three and a half peanuts without reaction, and most were able to consume up to 25 peanuts. The peanut puffs were described as easily ingested, making the treatment straightforward for families to follow at home after the initial hospital doses.

The study, published in The Lancet Regional Health – Europe, is the first randomised trial of oral immunotherapy in toddlers that used a slow dose increase and a low maintenance dose. Treatment began in a controlled hospital environment with medical supervision.

Some side effects occurred during the treatment, most of which were mild and included an itchy mouth or skin rashes. Serious allergic reactions took place in some cases when doses were increased, and a small number of children required an adrenaline injection.

Researchers stated that the treatment should only be carried out under controlled conditions in a healthcare setting with close medical follow-up. They stressed that parents should not attempt this approach at home, as serious reactions can still occur despite the cautious dosing schedule.

Peanut allergy affects about one in 50 children in the UK and is often a lifelong condition that requires families to remain vigilant about potential severe reactions, including anaphylaxis.