Having a peanut allergy doesn't automatically mean your child is allergic to tree nuts (like almonds, cashews, and walnuts), as peanuts are actually legumes, not nuts. However, about 30-40% of children with peanut allergy do react to one or more tree nuts as well. Our comprehensive testing can determine your child's specific allergy profile, allowing them to safely include non-allergenic nuts in their diet when appropriate rather than unnecessarily restricting nutritious foods.

While peanut allergy is often lifelong, approximately 20% of children do outgrow it. Regular assessment by our specialists can track changes in your child's allergy and determine if they're developing tolerance. This may include carefully supervised food challenges when appropriate. Even when complete resolution doesn't occur, some children may experience a decrease in sensitivity over time.

Children most likely to outgrow peanut allergy typically have:

• Lower levels of peanut-specific IgE antibodies
• Milder initial reactions
• Fewer other allergic conditions

Managing peanut allergy in school settings requires collaboration between parents, school staff, and healthcare providers.

We help families develop comprehensive school management plans that include:

• Age-appropriate education for the child about their allergy
• Clear emergency action plans for school staff
• Training on recognition of symptoms and use of emergency medications
• Strategies for navigating school meals, class parties, and field trips

For people with peanut allergy, cautionary labelling such as "may contain traces" or "manufactured in a facility that processes peanuts" indicates potential cross-contamination risk. The safety of consuming these products depends on your individual sensitivity level. Our specialists can help assess your risk based on your allergy history and test results, and provide personalised guidance on how to interpret these labels. For highly sensitive individuals, we typically recommend avoiding products with precautionary peanut labelling.

Professor Lack's groundbreaking LEAP (Learning Early About Peanut Allergy) study transformed our understanding of food allergy prevention. The research demonstrated that regular consumption of peanut in high-risk infants from 4-11 months of age reduced their risk of developing peanut allergy by 81% compared to peanut avoidance.Based on this research, we recommend:

• Early introduction of peanut for infants, particularly those at high risk
• Regular consumption to maintain tolerance
• Careful introduction protocols tailored to each child's risk profile
• Continued consumption even after tolerance is established

This evidence-based approach has been adopted in clinical guidelines worldwide and forms the foundation of our prevention strategies at LACK Clinic.