PEANUT ALLERGIES STRIKE EARLY. NO ONE ASKS WHY?
By Kim Stagliano
Reuters Health reports HERE that peanut allergies are striking children earlier than ever. Doctors put the onus on PARENTS to avoid giving peanuts to "susceptible" infants and toddlers. How the heck is Mom supposed to know if Janey is allergic to nuts before the poor child's throat closes and she goes into anaphylactic shock?
"In a study of 140 children with peanut allergies, the median age of the first allergic reaction was 14 months among those born between 2000 and 2005, compared to 22 to 24 months among allergic children born between 1988 and 1999."
Yet again, where are the pediatricians demanding to know "WHY?" GOOD GRIEF!
Kim Stagliano is Managing Editor of Age of Autism, a writer and the mother of three daughters with autism. She blogs here.
I added peanuts to my autistic son's food program in an effort to get him to eat more than his usual 5 chosen foods. I have seen an overall change in his behavior, such as hand-flapping, inability to concentrate for longer periods of time, verbal stim of "ah" and inability to answer simple questions. However, at the same time, the new "Dan" doctor our son started seeing put him on new supplements. Is the changes in his behavior more likely the result of his peanut eating or the supplements? Has anyone else experienced a similar situation such as this with their child? I would appreciate your comments.
Posted by: Cindy Neely- | April 21, 2008 at 11:44 PM
Peanuts are high in oxalates. Most children on the autism spectrum have a problem with oxalates. They impact the calcium regulation in the body. Undoubtedly these children with severe food allergies - some of these allergies are to casein, gluten and corn - have an unstable immune system. A slight transgression in calcium regulation is upsetting their biochemistry enough to cause death.
It might be important to note that these are the severe cases that can be observed by the parents. There would possibly be other undiagnosed children who are ingesting foods on the regular basis that, unknown to them, are assaulting their bodies on a daily basis. Someone should tell the AAP this.
Posted by: Its oxalates! | January 14, 2008 at 10:21 AM
I always wonder why peanut growers have not gotten together and asked this question. Many schools have completely banned all peanut products. I recall pbj's being a staple in many meals for many children growing up. I wonder how many pounds of peanuts were sold to the airlines before they were banned. The industry has probably taken a big hit in the last ten years.
Posted by: Diane Farr | January 14, 2008 at 09:33 AM
Good grief, indeed. Of course, one possible explanation is vaccinations, in spite of official protestations to the contrary. As per usual, the studies purporting to vindicate vaccines re: allergies do not use the only proper control group, the never-vaccinated. I wrote about it in my one-time (so far) column "Out of Control": http://www.vaccinationnews.com/Out_of_Control/2003/Sept_9/OOC1.htm
Posted by: Sandy Gottstein | December 23, 2007 at 05:10 PM