Peanut patch: Research offers new hope for allergy sufferers
A SKIN patch can help children develop more tolerance to peanuts, according to research.
In the study, more than 350 children aged between four and 11 were asked to apply a patch which contained either peanut or a placebo to their skin every day for a year.
The research was conducted at Cork University Hospital and Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital in Crumlin, and 29 other centres across North America, Germany, and Australia.
Although not all children wearing the patch developed a tolerance for peanut, researchers said that some were able to tolerate more peanut than before the study started.
Dr Aideen Byrne, of the National Clinical Research Centre (NCRC) in Crumlin, explained: “The children in the study would apply a single patch to their skin every day. Each patch was for a day.
“They put it on their back and removed and put another one the next day, and so on, for a whole year.”
Around 20,000 children and adults in Ireland have nut allergies. One in 20 toddlers now have a food allergy, with the most common being egg followed by milk and then peanut.
“Peanut allergy is the most common persistent food allergy and has a huge impact on the lives of affected children and their families,” said Dr Byrne
“The benefit of this skin patch (epicutaneous) treatment is that it is safe and well tolerated.”
In this phase of the study, which will continue for two more years, 35pc of the children developed a better tolerance to peanuts. Researchers expect this percentage to rise as the study continues.
“Our kids are relatively safe in schools and planes, the place we really worry about them is when they’re out eating,” added Dr Byrne.
“Genuine mistakes and contamination (of nut into other foods) can happen.
“This reduces their risks and improves their quality of life.
“That is our goal, to make the children’s lives as easy as possible.”