Valentine's Day Allergies
A recent Medical News Today article, Could You Be Allergic to Valentine's Day? highlights a topic covered in this month's Allergy Consumer Report.
Those with allergies to peanuts and tree nuts – an estimated 3 million Americans are allergic to one or both – must not only be vigilant about not eating any food containing nuts, but they must also be aware of what's been consumed by someone they kiss – and traces of nut allergen are not as easy to remove from the mouth as one might think.
Once nuts are consumed, neither rinsing the mouth, brushing teeth, or chewing gum guarantees that the allergen won't be transmitted to the allergic individual. Studies do indicate, however, that waiting at least several hours and eating an allergen-free meal in between the nut-laced meal and kissing may help avoid transmission.
Scott H. Sicherer, MD, FAAAAI, Professor of Pediatrics at the Jaffe Food Allergy Institute, Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York confirms: "We found that after our test subjects ate peanut butter, we did not detect it in their saliva after several hours with them also having eaten a peanut-free meal." He also cautions, however, that "for people who are partners of a person with serious allergies, avoiding the food altogether is the safest alternative." We agree – it's best not to take any chances.
Kissing doesn't pose the only threat on Valentine's Day; make sure that any boxes of chocolate received from loved ones – even if they don't contain nuts – are free of peanut and nut traces because even traces can pose life-threatening risks to allergic individuals.
Interestingly, nut allergic individuals must also know what's in their cosmetic products. Peanut or nut oil, which is often an ingredient of beauty products including lipstick, can cause skin allergy reactions.
For more information, visit the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology's Tips to Remember: Food Allergy and our Food Allergy FAQ.
Those with allergies to peanuts and tree nuts – an estimated 3 million Americans are allergic to one or both – must not only be vigilant about not eating any food containing nuts, but they must also be aware of what's been consumed by someone they kiss – and traces of nut allergen are not as easy to remove from the mouth as one might think.
Once nuts are consumed, neither rinsing the mouth, brushing teeth, or chewing gum guarantees that the allergen won't be transmitted to the allergic individual. Studies do indicate, however, that waiting at least several hours and eating an allergen-free meal in between the nut-laced meal and kissing may help avoid transmission.
Scott H. Sicherer, MD, FAAAAI, Professor of Pediatrics at the Jaffe Food Allergy Institute, Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York confirms: "We found that after our test subjects ate peanut butter, we did not detect it in their saliva after several hours with them also having eaten a peanut-free meal." He also cautions, however, that "for people who are partners of a person with serious allergies, avoiding the food altogether is the safest alternative." We agree – it's best not to take any chances.
Kissing doesn't pose the only threat on Valentine's Day; make sure that any boxes of chocolate received from loved ones – even if they don't contain nuts – are free of peanut and nut traces because even traces can pose life-threatening risks to allergic individuals.
Interestingly, nut allergic individuals must also know what's in their cosmetic products. Peanut or nut oil, which is often an ingredient of beauty products including lipstick, can cause skin allergy reactions.
For more information, visit the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology's Tips to Remember: Food Allergy and our Food Allergy FAQ.
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