Impact of peanut allergy on quality of life, stress and anxiety in the family

King, R. M., Knibb, R.C., Hourihane, J. O'B. "Impact of peanut allergy on quality of life, stress and anxiety." Allergy 64 (2009): 461–468.

This is a study conducted to determine how peanut allergy impacts the family of peanut allergy sufferers. “Peanut allergy (PA) is known to impact on quality of life (QoL) of the sufferer, but little research has focused on all family members (461).” 46 families of children with a peanut allergy were given questionnaires regarding their quality of life, stress, and anxiety. I didn’t find it surprising to read that mothers of peanut allergic children experienced greater stress and anxiety than the fathers. I think that mothers are typically the caregivers and that is why they feel this way. Other factors, such as separation anxiety and anxiety over physical injury, were studied. As I would have expected, children with peanut allergies were generally more anxious and stressed in most situations than their non-food allergic siblings.

This study closely relates to my research question, but I find myself not agreeing with the results, probably because they are contrary to my beliefs. Upon further reflection, though, I would probably rate my anxiety and stress as higher than a peer without an allergic child. I don’t like to think that my quality of life is less, and I don’t want my children to think that, either.

This study fills a gap that exists in current peanut allergy research, and I will probably use it as a source in my project. I can use it as a comparison to the results I gather from the questionnaire I distribute.

Food Allergy Herbal Formula-2

Srivasta KD, Qu C, Zhang T, Goldfarb J, Sampson HA, Li XM. "Food Allergy Herbal Formula-2 silences peanut-induced anaphylaxis for a prolonged posttreatment period via IFN-g producing CD8+ T cells." J Allergy Clin Immunol 123 (2009): 443-451.
Currently, there is not a cure for peanut allergies. Peanut allergies are potentially life threatening and "strict avoidance is the only way to manage this condition (443)." This article describes the study of Food Allergy Herbal Formula (FAHF-2), which is now in clinical trials in the United States, as a means of avoiding and/or preventing anaphylactic responses to peanut ingestion. As stated in the article, "there is a need for safe, effective, and long-lasting therapy (443)."

For this study, researchers gave a group of peanut-allergic mice FAHF-2 orally for a prescribed amount of time and orally challenged them with peanuts during the course. A "sham" group of peanut allergic mice were not given the herbal formula and a group of non-allergic mice, the "naïve" group, were also included in the study. The study showed that the allergic mice, treated with FAHF-2, were able to tolerate ingestion of peanuts and showed no signs of anaphylaxis. Not only did the mice not react, the effects of FAHF-2 lasted up to 36 weeks after the treatment had stopped. The majority of the "sham" group of mice did react anaphylactically.

This study, conducted by a well-reputed group of researchers in the field of food allergy, is an important advancement in the field. The information it provides will be useful in my research project's section on possible cures.

Household peanut consumption as a risk factor for the development of peanut allergy

Fox AT, Sasieni P, Du Toit G, Syed H, Lack G. "Household peanut consumption as a risk factor for the development of peanut allergy." J Allergy Clin Immunol 123 (2009): 417-423.

This is an article which describes a study conducted to determine if household peanut consumption is a risk factor in developing an allergy to peanuts. I especially enjoyed this paper because it is a study report and is quite relevant to the things we've been doing in this class. The paper is divided into some of the following sections: method (study design), cases and high-risk controls, questionnaire, and statistical analyses. Although the paper discusses my topic, peanut allergies, I was more intrigued by seeing our lessons in action.
The main focus of this paper discusses aspects of peanut allergy which weren't factors when my children were infants. There is evidence, not necessarily conclusive, that high levels of environmental exposure (non-oral) to peanuts during infancy seem to promote sensitization and low levels may be protective. Another interesting topic is that maternal ingestion of peanuts during pregnancy or lactation doesn't seem to have an effect on the development of allergy in infancy.
My research paper will benefit from the information in this article. The authors are well-respected and cited often in the articles I am reading.

The perfectly potent peanut

Shreffler, Wayne G. "." J Allergy Clin Immunol 123 (2009):352-3.

This editorial was clearly written for medical professionals. It discusses the "pathogenesis of allergic inflammation" and other equally technical aspects of peanut allergies. The allergic response in humans is discussed in detail.
Although the article was written by a well-respected MD, I could never use this information in my research paper. I understand peanut allergy better than most, but this paper was way over my head. The vocabulary was extremely technical and would not be appropriate for my audience.