Moving Past "Avoid All Nuts": Individualizing Management of Children with Peanut/Tree Nut Allergies

Abstract

It has been common practice to tell patients with allergy to peanut or tree nuts to avoid all nuts. Evidence that unnecessary avoidance of peanuts and eggs is associated with increased risk for developing anaphylaxis to those foods has changed how allergists view previous recommendations to avoid foods that have not caused a reaction. In the absence of evidence, collaborative decision making between clinicians and families should be used to decide whether to avoid tree nuts and how to safely introduce tree nuts into the diet. This article discusses the options for introducing tree nuts to children with peanut allergy.

Keywords: Collaborative decision making; Food allergy prevention; Peanut allergy; Tree nuts; Unnecessary avoidance.