Peanut Allergy Testing Imprecise

Thousands of parents believe their kids have peanut allergies and because the allergic reactions can be very serious, they place suffocating limitations on their kids. Some of these families are worrying unnecessarily.

A study* of 84 children who tested positive for peanut allergy on the skin-prick-test showed that a substantial number were found not to be allergic to peanuts when they ate peanuts under medical supervision. The study claimed that the skin-prick-test is not precise or specific enough.

Parents with a child who has tested positive for peanut allergy should consider a "peanut challenge" in a hospital environment. Especially if their child has never had an allergic reaction to peanut before.

* Study published in the journal Pediatric Allergy and Immunology. Dr Anthony Yee, Donna Jelley and Mary Ziegler, Sydney Children's Hospital.