Age and eczema severity, but not family history, are major risk factors for peanut allergy in infancy

Abstract

Background: Whether to screen high-risk groups before early peanut introduction is controversial.

Objective: We sought to determine the risk of peanut allergy (PA) before peanut introduction for infants with (1) moderate-severe eczema, (2) another food allergy (FA), and/or (3) a first-degree relative with peanut allergy (FH).

Methods: Infants aged 4 to 11 months with no history of peanut ingestion, testing, or reaction and at least 1 of the above risk factors received peanut skin prick test and, depending on skin prick test wheal size, oral food challenge or observed feeding.

Results: A total of 321 subjects completed the enrollment visit (median age, 7.2 months; 58% males); 78 had eczema only, 11 FA only, 107 FH only, and 125 had multiple risk factors. Overall, 18% of 195 with eczema, 19% of 59 with FA, and 4% of 201 with FH had PA. Only 1% of 115 with FH and no eczema had PA. Among those with eczema, older age (odds ratio [OR], 1.3; 95% CI, 1.04-1.68 per month), higher SCORing Atopic Dermatitis score (OR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.06-1.34 per 5 points), black (OR, 5.79; 95% CI, 1.92-17.4 compared with white), or Asian race (OR, 6.98; 95% CI, 1.92-25.44) and suspected or diagnosed other FA (OR, 3.98; 95% CI, 1.62-9.80) were associated with PA.

Conclusions: PA is common in infants with moderate-severe eczema, whereas FH without eczema is not a major risk factor, suggesting screening only in those with significant eczema. Even within the first year of life, introduction at later ages is associated with a higher risk of PA among those with eczema, supporting introduction of peanut as early as possible.

Keywords: Food allergy; early introduction; peanut allergy; prevention.