Trials are underway to protect kids with peanut allergies

Researchers are closer than ever to finding a cure for peanut allergies, with multiple treatment trials* underway at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Adelaide.

One in 30 children across the country has a known peanut allergy.

Dr Patrick Quinn of Women’s and Children’s Hospital said it’s “the highest published rate of food allergies in the world”.

One trial tests the success rate of patches worn by four to seven year olds, while the other examines the success of immunotherapy* injections on four to 11-year-olds.

“We don’t really know whether this is a cure or whether those patients are just temporarily able to eat peanuts,” Dr Quinn said.

Zeppelin Smith, who is taking part in the trials, was two when he experienced a severe allergic reaction after consuming a cereal containing peanuts.

“I got quite scared and nervous,” he said.

His mother Calli said his physical reaction to the nuts was immediate.

“He straight away got some hives* and his lips were quite swollen.”

About 18 months later, Zeppelin’s parents enrolled him in a trial at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital.

Under the trial, Zeppelin wears special patches placed on his skin to treat the allergy – allowing him to consume peanuts.

“I feel happy because I don’t like being sick or unwell,” Zeppelin said.

Peanut allergy is one of the most common allergies in children and although the allergy may improve with time for some, for others it will become worse. People who are allergic to peanuts will not necessarily be allergic to tree nuts or seeds.

Symptoms of peanut, tree nut* or seed allergies vary and range from milder reactions to anaphylaxis*, a severe allergic reaction. Nut allergy symptoms could also include raised red bumps on the skin (hives), runny nose, cramps, nausea* or vomiting. The best way to manage peanut, tree nut and seed allergies is to avoid all products containing these foods.

Food allergies can be life threatening and peanuts, tree nuts and seeds are some of the most common food triggers* for life-threatening severe allergic reactions.

GLOSSARY

• treatment trials: Scientific studies conducted to test the effectiveness of medical treatments
• immunotherapy: a medical treatment that uses the body’s immune system to fight diseases, including allergies
• hives: raised, red, itchy welts on the skin, often a result of an allergic reaction
• anaphylaxis: a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction that can cause difficulty breathing
• nausea: the feeling of wanting to vomit
• food triggers: foods that cause a reaction or flare-up of symptoms
• tree nuts: nuts that come from trees, such as almonds, walnuts, and cashews

EXTRA READING

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Trial to ‘switch off’ severe allergies in kids

QUICK QUIZ

1. What is the main goal of the treatment trials being conducted at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Adelaide?
2. Who is Dr. Patrick Quinn and what does he say about the rate of food allergies in Australia?
3. What are the two types of treatments being tested in the trials for peanut allergies?
4. How did Zeppelin Smith react when he first experienced a severe allergic reaction to peanuts?
5. What is anaphylaxis, and why is it important to manage peanut, tree nut, and seed allergies carefully?

LISTEN TO THIS STORY

CLASS ACTIVITIES
1. Lunchbox allergies
Work in groups of 3-4 and get out your lunchboxes. Read the ingredients on different lunchbox items to see how many things contain peanuts or traces of nuts.

Write a list of the items a child with a peanut allergy could not eat.

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What does this mean for parents trying to keep their children safe from eating or being exposed to something they are allergic to? What does a child your age who has an allergy have to learn to be aware of?

Time: allow 20 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Science, Health and Physical Education, Personal and Social, Critical and Creative Thinking

2. Extension
Why do you think Australia has the highest published rate of food allergies in the world?

Is there something we could do to reduce this?

Time: allow 10 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Science, Health and Physical Education, Personal and Social, Critical and Creative Thinking

VCOP ACTIVITY
Vocabulary list
Here are some key terms from the article. Look up each word and write its definition in your own words.

Allergy

Immunotherapy

Anaphylaxis

Reaction

Symptoms

Cure

Treatment

Severe

Trial

Patches

Sentence Creation: Write a sentence for each vocabulary word to show you understand how to use it correctly.

Matching Exercise: Match each vocabulary word to its correct definition from the list below.
A. A test of a new treatment to see if it works.

B. A medical condition where the body reacts negatively to certain substances.

C. Extremely serious or dangerous.

D. A serious, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction.

E. A course of medical treatment that helps the body fight an allergy.

F. Something that makes a condition or disease better.

G. Indicators or signs of a condition or disease.

H. Small pieces of material containing medicine that are applied to the skin.

I. The body’s response to an allergen.

J. Efforts to heal or alleviate a disease or condition.

Fill-in-the-Blanks: Use the correct vocabulary word to complete each sentence.
One common __________ of a peanut allergy is a runny nose.

The doctors are running a __________ to see if the new patches work.

An __________ can be very dangerous and requires immediate treatment.

__________ is a treatment that helps the body get used to allergens.

After eating peanuts, some people have a severe __________.

The special __________ contain medicine that helps treat the allergy.

A peanut __________ can cause symptoms like hives and swelling.

The goal of the treatment is to find a __________ for the allergy.

Some reactions can be mild, but others can be __________.

Doctors are looking for the best __________ to help people with peanut allergies.

Whole class to complete reflection.
Write a short paragraph (3-4 sentences) reflecting on what you have learned about peanut allergies and the research being done to find a cure. Use at least three vocabulary words from the list.