Peanut & Nut Allergies
Dealing with a peanut or tree nut allergy means you are always checking food labels and stressing over accidental bites at school or restaurants. Even though these allergies can cause serious reactions, you can manage them with the right plan.
At Southwest Asthma & Allergy Associates, we help parents and adults figure out exactly what triggers their reactions, build simple safety plans, and look at treatment options to help keep them safe from severe reactions.
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Understanding Peanut and Tree Nut Allergies
Peanut allergies and tree nut allergies are actually different things. Peanuts grow underground and are classified as legumes. Tree nuts, like almonds, walnuts, cashews, pecans, and pistachios, grow on trees.
However, these distinct foods share very similar proteins. Although peanut and tree nut allergies are different, some people may be allergic to both. We help identify the specific foods that trigger your reactions so you can make informed dietary choices and avoid unnecessary restrictions.
Common Signs and Symptoms
Most nut allergy reactions show up within minutes or up to two hours after eating. A reaction can start out small or quickly turn dangerous. The most frequent symptoms include:
- Hives, skin rashes, redness, or swelling
- Itching or tingling around the mouth and throat
- Stomach issues like cramps, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
- Runny nose, sneezing, or a stuffed-up feeling
- Wheezing or trouble breathing
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How We Diagnose Your Nut Allergy
If you think you or your child has a nut allergy, visit our team at Southwest Asthma & Allergy Associates. Do not guess at home with risky test bites. We will check your past reactions and use these two simple tests to find out exactly what is going on:
- Skin Prick Testing: A tiny drop of liquid nut protein goes on the skin, usually on the arm or back. The skin is then lightly pricked. If a small, itchy bump shows up in about 15 minutes, it usually means you have an allergy.
- Blood Testing: A blood sample is taken to measure specific IgE antibodies to nut proteins.
If earlier results are unclear, patients can eat small amounts of the food in our clinic under close medical supervision.
Treatment and Management Options
Right now, there is no permanent cure for a nut allergy. Management is all about preventing accidental contact and being ready to treat a reaction if one happens.
Avoidance and Education
The most important part of staying safe is completely avoiding the nuts that cause your reaction. This means reading food labels carefully every time you shop, since ingredients can change without notice. It also means learning how to ask questions about how food is prepared at restaurants or parties.
Emergency Medications
Anyone diagnosed with a peanut or tree nut allergy should carry an epinephrine auto-injector (like an EpiPen) at all times. Epinephrine is the only medicine that can stop a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction. Our team will teach you, your child, and your caregivers exactly how and when to use it safely.
Oral Immunotherapy (OIT)
For some patients, especially young children, oral immunotherapy might be an option. This treatment involves eating tiny, slowly increasing amounts of the nut under strict medical care over several months. The goal is not to cure the allergy, but to gradually increase tolerance to small amounts of the allergen under medical supervision.Â
This helps protect the patient from a severe reaction if they accidentally consume hidden allergens.
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Our Approach to Allergy Care
Dealing with a food allergy takes ongoing support and a plan that fits your real life. Southwest Asthma & Allergy Associates has more than 40 years of experience helping families handle the challenges of food allergies. We know that every patient is different.
We take the time to build a personal care plan that works for your family’s routine, school, and lifestyle. We also work with major insurance plans to help make your care and regular visits affordable and easy to manage.
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Frequently Asked Questions
While some children outgrow allergies to milk or eggs, nut allergies usually stick around for life. Only about 20% of children with a peanut allergy outgrow it, and tree nut allergies are outgrown even less often.
Peanuts are legumes that grow underground, while tree nuts grow on trees. They have different types of proteins, but because the proteins are similar, many people are allergic to both.
For most people, simply smelling peanut butter does not cause a severe allergic reaction because the scent does not carry the protein. However, touching surfaces with nut residue and then touching your eyes, nose, or mouth can cause a reaction.
Take Control of Your Allergy
Managing a nut allergy takes careful planning, but it does not stop you from living a normal life. We provide allergy testing, treatment guidance, and long-term management plans for children and adults. We also help you build a safe daily management plan. Contact Southwest Asthma & Allergy Associates to set up a visit with a specialist.
