An ill-advised comment on peanuts

Upon arriving home this evening I was not only welcomed by Hidden B (torrid spousal kiss), Voov (loud acclamation from high chair), and Shmoop (whiny complaint from the floor, where he was lounging, practising to be a teenager) but also, on the kitchen table, this quarter's issue of The Advocate, the NEA's house publication.

The Advocate is best savored at leisure, like a fine malt whisky, so I'll save my review for future posts. Today I want to mention that the annual meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology is still ongoing in Phoenix. It was at this meeting that, on Saturday afternoon, Donald Leung and three other immunology heavyweights engaged in the knock down, drag out brawl known as the Great Atopic Dermatitis Raft Debate. The four presenters each argued that their pet cell types (keratinocytes, T cells, etc.) play the most important role in eczema. Man, I'd like to know what they said, but the event wasn't webcast. I did find out, however, that the proceedings of the entire conference were videorecorded and are available on DVD-ROM-- for me, at the low low price of $340.

Maybe there's some way to get just the session I'm interested in, but it'd probably take more effort than I can spare. (I was also informed that audio recordings might be cheaper... but who's going to pay a hundred dollars for a podcast when these scientists are probably leaning heavily on Powerpoint diagrams?)

* * *

The ACAAI meeting has been in the news, because the president of the whole shebang has gone on the record saying that people take peanut allergies too seriously. I'm sorry, but this immediately discredits his expertise. I know that latex and peanut allergies can be life-threatening; and their incidence is increasing. It doesn't matter if the incidence is low (~0.5%)-- in a school of, say, 1000, that means you have five kids who could potentially die if one of their classmates (it is clinically proven that 100% of kids are capable of being idiots) thought it might be funny to see what happens if Johnny takes a bite out of the wrong sandwich.

I know someone who died of an asthma attack; I also know someone whose wife nearly died from a latex allergy. I'm no expert, but I think peanuts probably pose the same caliber of problem.

This is one area in which America's "sue first, ask questions later" culture will work for the good of society. I can't imagine a school principal revoking a peanut ban because Dr. Bahna said so. Fewer peanut bans may get enacted, though.

For the record, I loves me some Snickers, and I eat PB&J every single day. But I'd quit on the spot if someone's life was endangered.

* * *

A blog post worth checking out: in which a UK citizen of east Indian descent talks about her teenage experience with eczema. For me, too, eczema came on with a vengeance not long after I got interested in the opposite sex. I didn't develop big boobs to compensate, as she did-- but, on reflection, that's probably a good thing.

Mr. Peanut need not apply

Eczema Mom recently posted about her experience being on a plane with her kid, who's been diagnosed with severe peanut allergy-- some guy opened a bag of peanuts in the row ahead of them, and the smell drifted back, and she could do nothing but wait and see whether her kid would have a reaction. (On a plane! What are you going to do if he DOES have a reaction?)

Peanuts-- I love to eat peanut butter, and Snickers, but I'm learning that a lot of people have severe allergies to them. In fact, Voov was diagnosed with a peanut reaction on her skin prick test-- Hidden B will know all the details. Hidden B is breastfeeding Voov (who's been on solid food for a while now, being 18 months old) and has had to avoid peanut butter herself. I get in trouble for eating the sunflower and almond butter-- which somehow seem more exotic and tasty than my peanut butter.

Peanuts are in the news at the moment. There's a study out in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology by a group at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in NYC, indicating that pregnant women ought not to eat peanuts if they can help it. The specifics-- seems only to apply to kids who are suspected of being allergic to milk or eggs, or have eczema and allergies to milk or eggs. (An odd study group, that-- but I can't see the details because my institution doesn't have access to the paper itself.)

Kids with eczema really have it tough-- the itch, the rash, the food reactions, and then they're at higher risk of developing a life-threatening peanut allergy. Life's a bitch.

I had a short email today from a reader, Jon, letting me know that his partner, who's had eczema for a long time, had recently seen a dramatic improvement after cutting out dairy products. That's awesome and I encourage anyone who has eczema and who has never tried an elimination diet to do the same thing. Cut out, one at a time and for two weeks or more, milk, soy, peanuts, wheat, and eggs. (And fish, if you eat it regularly-- Hidden B hates fish, so I never cook it.)

Here's my personal take: I draw a distinction between food ALLERGIES and food (or drink) that causes REACTIONS. I might have a food allergy; I don't know for sure. But I do know I have reactions to alcohol and hot peppers, which both dilate the blood vessels in the skin. I get itchy after drinking booze or eating a hot curry in the same way I do after I exercise. I'm guessing the heat or blood flow somehow stimulates itch nerve fibers. And then, I also have reactions (oh, so vicious) to aged cheese like real Parmesan, and to preserved foods that are high in histamine. These just have to be triggering inflammation systemically.

Does this mean I never have a drink, or enjoy a fine double Gloucester? Hell no. You have to live. But I often regret it the day afterward.