Because it is harmful physically, psychologically, socially and politically, the AAP advises it's member pediatricians against performing the surgical procedure. Researchers evaluated the effect of zinc supplementation on infants and children ages 6 to 35 months from urban India over a six-month period. Dietary zinc supplementation was provided during daily home visits, and illness was assessed every fifth day. Because malnutrition and zinc deficiencies have been shown to increase the incidence and severity in ALRI, researchers indicate zinc supplementation and improved diets can help prevent illnesses. Still, accidental ingestion of nuts is common, and the ensuing allergic reactions can be serious, even life threatening.
Accidents occur most often in school, but also at home and in restaurants.
Sharing food, hidden ingredients and school craft projects using peanut butter were some of the modes of accidental ingestion. Reactions included skin, respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms. Unlike some other common food allergies, nut allergies usually are not outgrown. In addition, these infants may have an increased risk for respiratory illnesses. Upper and lower respiratory symptoms significantly correlated with positive cocaine results in urine samples obtained randomly from researchers at Yale University School of Medicine.