Desensitization Therapy for Peanut Allergies

Filed in archive Allergy: Research and Development , Food Allergies , Living with Allergies on June 26, 2006

If you have been following this blog for a while now, you'll know that one of my son's allergies are to peanuts. Along with thousands --or even up to a million kids in America alone-- he breaks into hives if he eats even small amounts of peanuts. I guess, we are already a bit lucky that his allergies are not so bad as the others who show severe symptoms even being in the vicinity of peanuts.

One such kid is 4-yr old Liam Park. He is so sensitive that he reacted immediately while on a plane as other passengers opened their bag of peanuts.

Liam is taking part in a study that tries to see if exposure to tiny but increasing amounts of peanuts will ease his sensitivity. He is being given peanut Flour everyday, and hopefully, after a while, his reactions will get less and less. Preliminary observations, as well as observations from other participants in the study, seems to show that the desensitization does work.

The doctors estimate, that if successful, we may see a possible therapy for peanut allergies in five years. It may even be made applicable for other food allergies as well. Hurray!

Read the news report from ABC News, or watch the video here.

Warning: Do not attempt this desensitization experiment at home! The participants in this study were under strict medical supervision and were prepared in the event of emergencies.