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Two new peanut allergy treatments are on the verge of approval

ft.com

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Re: Two new peanut allergy treatments are on the verge of approval

#2

Post by Clanan »

As the parent of a child with a severe, life-threatening peanut allergy, these treatments could be a Godsend. It's hard to describe the life change that occurs when a normal food like peanuts suddenly becomes a disguised killer that could take my child away at any moment. The speed with which it strikes is stunning; according to our allergist, we have only minutes to administer EpiPens to avoid the runaway anaphylactic reaction. And we've done so. The tragic story that begins the article seems a testament to this - if a reaction isn't countered in time, it can't be.

I miss Snickers.

Re: Two new peanut allergy treatments are on the verge of approval

#4

Post by nostromo »

Clanan wrote: post #2

As the parent of a child with a severe, life-threatening peanut allergy, these treatments could be a Godsend. It's hard to describe the life change that occurs when a normal food like peanuts suddenly becomes a disguised killer that could take my child away at any moment. The speed with which it strikes is stunning; according to our allergist, we have only minutes to administer EpiPens to avoid the runaway anaphylact…

While I appreciate your concern and caution, I feel like the medical community has worked the public into a bit of hysteria over peanut allergies.

So few people die from peanut allergies each year it's hard to actually get good numbers on the phenomenon. And yet I have several friends who report having someone deathly allergic to peanuts in their family. It seems incongruent.

Re: Two new peanut allergy treatments are on the verge of approval

#6

Post by SQL2219 »

Clanan wrote: post #2

As the parent of a child with a severe, life-threatening peanut allergy, these treatments could be a Godsend. It's hard to describe the life change that occurs when a normal food like peanuts suddenly becomes a disguised killer that could take my child away at any moment. The speed with which it strikes is stunning; according to our allergist, we have only minutes to administer EpiPens to avoid the runaway anaphylact…

http://www.jacionline.org/article/S0091-6749(14)01737-0/abst...

Re: Two new peanut allergy treatments are on the verge of approval

#7

Post by panzagl »

nostromo wrote: post #4
Clanan wrote: post #2

As the parent of a child with a severe, life-threatening peanut allergy, these treatments could be a Godsend. It's hard to describe the life change that occurs when a normal food like peanuts suddenly becomes a disguised killer that could take my child away at any moment. The speed with which it strikes is stunning; according to our allergist, we have only minutes to administer EpiPens to avoid the runaway anaphylact…

While I appreciate your concern and caution, I feel like the medical community has worked the public into a bit of hysteria over peanut allergies. So few people die from peanut allergies each year it's hard to actually get good numbers on the phenomenon. And yet I have several friends who report having someone deathly allergic to peanuts in their family. It seems incongruent.

I'm pretty sure my daughter will not stop breathing if she eats a peanut. I'm also 100% certain her stomach will empty itself in a way that makes 'The Exorcist' look like a gross-out comedy in comparison. We've also seen her break out head to toe in hives. While neither is life threatening, they're also not pretty and are violent enough that her throat closing is not unimaginable.

Re: Two new peanut allergy treatments are on the verge of approval

#8

Post by [deleted] »

Clanan wrote: post #2

As the parent of a child with a severe, life-threatening peanut allergy, these treatments could be a Godsend. It's hard to describe the life change that occurs when a normal food like peanuts suddenly becomes a disguised killer that could take my child away at any moment. The speed with which it strikes is stunning; according to our allergist, we have only minutes to administer EpiPens to avoid the runaway anaphylact…

[deleted]

Re: Two new peanut allergy treatments are on the verge of approval

#9

Post by RijilV »

Last year I learned that 20% of adults who were diagnosed with a peanut allergy outgrow it after childhood. It is worth getting tested again if you grew up with a peanut allergy.

I had signed up for a trial of one of these drugs. Having grown up in the 80s with a severe peanut allergy that required the use of the epipen more than a few times I was keen for anything that could help, even just something that would lessen the reaction so maybe I could choke down some benadryl rather than stabbing myself with that ~2 gauge (hyperbole) epipen that now costs a fortune.

First thing they did during the trial was give me two peanut tests, skin prick and blood test. Both came back negative despite positive results decades earlier as a child.

I would have never thought to get tested again on my own. Not being allergic has made such a huge difference in my life - I was always flippant about my allergy and had developed good safeguards to protect myself. But the amount of stress is caused me was amazing to have lifted. Hope that these drugs can bring that to others (or just get tested again and maybe you're one of the lucky ones!)

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