Nut and peanut allergies may be getting more common in children, doubling over the past five years in the United States, researchers report.
Canadian researchers also said they were seeing many more cases of peanut allergy than expected.
Two reports published in the December issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology suggest that peanut and tree-nut allergies, which can be deadly, will continue to become more common.
Peanut allergies affect an estimated 1.5 million Americans and 200 people die every year from severe allergic reactions to peanuts.
The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology says there could be several reasons that peanut allergy is becoming more common.
Roasting peanuts can make them more likely to cause an immune reaction; more children may be eating peanuts when their immune systems are immature; and many more skin ointments now contain nut products. - Reuters