Combatting Peanut Allergies Down Under

While the National Peanut Board has recommendations for parents to follow in introducing peanuts to your child’s diet in an effort to ward off a peanut allergy, we’re seeing something a bit more….official….in Australia.

From BBC News, Australia is introducing a groundbreaking program to treat peanut allergies in infants, marking the first national model of its kind. The initiative will provide oral immunotherapy to eligible babies under 12 months, already diagnosed with peanut allergies. Under medical supervision, these infants will receive gradually increasing doses of peanut powder over two years to reduce their sensitivity and potentially allow them to consume peanuts safely.

Assistant Minister for Health Ged Kearney expressed hope that this program could be a "game changer" in preventing severe allergic reactions. The program, which is being rolled out in ten hospitals across Australia, will be evaluated by the National Allergy Centre of Excellence (NACE) for effectiveness and safety. Doctors emphasize that families should not attempt oral immunotherapy at home due to the risk of allergic reactions.

For more details on the program, visit BBC News: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0xj3xq5l1vo

For tips from the National Peanut Board on introducing peanuts to your child’s diet, visit this website: https://nationalpeanutboard.org/news/5-easy-ideas-to-introduce-peanut-to-infants/