More and more kids seem to be allergic to peanuts these days. It causes havoc in our schools that feel the pressure to create peanut free zones in their classrooms and cafeterias. That classic of childhood–the Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich–has now become Public Enemy Number One. But is the fear of peanuts overblown?

Food allergies in children are often misdiagnosed, according to a study published in the Journal of Allergy of Clinical Immunology. 66% of the children who tested positive for a food allergy with a skin or blood test were later found to NOT be allergic when given a more accurate food challenge test.

What food allergy is most misdiagnosed? Peanut.

Skin and blood tests can be wrong because they test for antibodies. The mere presence of these antibodies do not always mean a child will have an allergic reaction to the suspicious food when eaten.

Dr. Leonard Bacharier, director of pediatric allergy and immunology at Washington University School of Medicine said that parents are often left needlessly worrying about dangerous reactions and painstakingly monitoring food. “It’s a big, ugly issue. We deal with it every day.”

Parents can sign up for food challenge test from either St. Louis Children’s Hospital or Cardinal Glennon Hospital. Both hospitals perform the tests each week. As always, parents should ask their pediatrician if a test is safe for their child before trying it–and let the professionals perform the test, just incase!

Pediatricians can set up an appointment for the test, which can last six hours. Children are given small doses of the food they may be allergic to and monitored for reactions by nurses. A hospital setting is considered safest for the tests in case a child comes down with a serious reaction.

Children often outgrown a food allergy by the time they are 3 or 4 years old, but real peanut allergies could last a lifetime. Proper testing is the only way to be sure if a child has outgrown an allergy, but isn’t it worth it?

For more information about children’s food allergies, see the St. Louis Children’ Hospital website. If you believe your child may have an allergy, please talk to your pediatrician.

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