Ate Peanuts? Don't Kiss the Baby!

Filed in archive Allergy: Research and Development , Food Allergies on March 7, 2007

We already know that allergies can be triggered by exposure to the offending allergen, and this is particularly critical during early childhood. In a letter published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, scientists say that even kissing the baby after you've consumed peanuts or peanut-containing food items may increase the baby's risk of developing peanut allergy.

They say it may explain why almost all people who have peanut allergy have an eczema rash during their first six months of life. It is suggested that the allergens get in through the skin of infants with eczema, increasing their risk of developing an allergy.

Of course, kissing, body contact, and other forms of display of affection is vital to a baby's development, so rather than totally avoiding kissing your baby, just make doubly sure that there are no traces left when handling an infant. Or I suppose a better option is that if you think there's a good likelihood that your baby might develop food allergies, why not avoid peanuts in your household altogether?