I sat quietly up to this point, but had to speak. So I identified my self as a pediatrician, and gave a quick talk on peanut allergy and its potential consequences. Children with such a reaction, will within moments of coming into contact with what they are allergic to, will start to get symptoms including hives, swelling of the face, mouth, tongue, difficulty breathing, and possibly collapse into shock if untreated. I also bluntly explained that anaphylaxis can result in death, and that indeed as a pediatrician, I have actually witnessed this first hand. The room went silent for a moment and the teacher thanked me for clearing things up.
Some children can get a reaction just by smelling peanut odor.
Obviously the younger children are, the more likely that accidents will happen. They say that in the real world one cannot expect to have such peanut free zones. In the interim, it is important to ensure that their school or day care setting is peanut-free. The information provided in this site is designed to be an educational aid only. It is not intended to replace the advice and care of your child's physician, nor is it intended to be used for medical diagnosis or treatment.