Teenager with peanut allergy dies after a kiss

CTV ^ | November 25, 2005

[Pharmboy]

The drug companies did not support any of the research--public health arms of the countries' did. Infants die--they always have. Sometimes they die after receiving an immunization--millions have the immunization and do just fine. That's why it has to be studied scientifically with a control group. In the abstract below, the authors are referring to the multiple studies that I had mentioned when they say "consistently negative:"

J Intellect Disabil Res. 2005 Apr;49(Pt 4):231-8. Related Articles, Links


Aetiology of autism: findings and questions.

Rutter M.

SGDP Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Denmark Hill, London, UK. j.wickham@iop.kcl.ac.uk

BACKGROUND: Although there is good evidence that autism is a multifactorial disorder, an adequate understanding of the genetic and non-genetic causes has yet to be achieved. METHODS: Empirical research findings and conceptual reviews are reviewed with respect to evidence on possible causal influences. RESULTS: Much the strongest evidence concerns the importance of susceptibility genes, but such genes have yet to be identified. Specific somatic conditions (such as tuberous sclerosis and the fragile X anomaly) account for a small proportion of cases. Over recent decades there has been a major rise in the rate of diagnosed autism. The main explanation for this rise is to be found in better ascertainment and a broadening of the diagnostic concept. Nevertheless, some degree of true rise cannot be firmly excluded. However, the epidemiological evidence on the main hypothesized environmental explanation, namely the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine, is consistently negative. CONCLUSION: Progress on the elucidation of the causes of autism will be crucially dependent on the combination of epidemiology with more basic science laboratory studies.

[DBrow]

This is not really a good solution. The dog would be alerting all the time! So many foods have either peanut or peanut protein in them. Also, she'll be trusting her life to the actions of a dog, rather than taking responsibility for herself.

If you are allergic, your own nose can be much more sensitive than a trained hound, though it can be risky sticking your nose into peanuts. They are usually aromatic enough to give good warning before you commit to eating whatever it is. If you were to eat with me, you'd see me examine and sniff everything I eat.

Better to train the kid in how to cope with the allergy and learn to avoid peanuts in the first place, rather than rely on a dog.

If you are peanut allergic the world is a very different place- there are serious and possibly lethal health threats all over the place, some of them hidden. Well-intentioned people will try to talk you into eating very dangerous things, and some not so well intentioned people will try to trick you into eating poison for fun, or to be mean. The only way to survive in good health is to learn what the threats are and devise strategies to avoid them. Parents must teach the allergic kids, and the kids must learn (or get used to looking at ER cielings).

If you can take care of a dog on your own you can learn to read labels and not eat foods that people hand you.

Having said all that, if her dog gets her out of the house and back into the world, it's a good idea for her.

There's been lots of discussion on the thread about why so many people with peanut allergy- there is, I think, another factor at work and that is parents who are totally risk-averse. Not willing to accept any risk whatsoever, these parents try to make the entire world a safe place for their kids. This girl in the story is staying home from school because of peanuts? She and her parents apparently cannot accept the idea that there are peanuts all over the place. It's a risk, the kid is allergic, so face it.

[Pharmboy]

Remember, it's only an hypothesis. And, if your toddler has no problems with peanuts by now, it should not be a problem. There are literally millions and million of kids and young adults doing fine today who were fed with soy formula. Please do not worry.

[steelyourfaith]

Pettifogger alert ! ! !

Complicit: George Washington Carver's estate.

[freespirited]

I have an appointment with my doctor on Monday to discuss the bizarre reactions I have been having after eating something containing monosodium glutamate.

Ditter, there is probably nothing wrong. Just google "Chinese Restaurant Syndrome" and I think you will feel much better.

[bert]

You mean Robert Heinlein/ Charles Darwin?

Righton the button

[nothingnew]

That's like saying we need to ban cars because some kids run into the street without looking.

Gets my vote. Also guns, knives, any sharp objects in the house, bleach, rope, shoestrings, neckties, paperclips, and...electricity!

FMCDH(BITS)

[Danae]

Wow that is scary!!! God has something for you to do that's for sure!!!! I am sorry you had to go through that!!!! Fortunately you made it!!!!

[Hank Rearden]

Again, its just a matter of common courtesy and cooperation. The golden rule goes a long way.

I'm impressed by your posts and attitude; you've got it. Maximizing liberty for all requires cooperation and placing a high value on freedom.

Sonny M is seeking NerfWorld, which just isn't going to happen as long as freedom-cherishing Americans are around.

[gingerky]

I don't believe you can go into anaphylactic shock on the first exposure. I'm allergic to wasps and found out the day before my first son was born. I was stung, and immediately started feeling nauseous. I experienced the "feeling of impending doom" we sometimes read about. I was stung on my leg, but my hands started to itch and swell; later, my neck and chest begin to break out in a rash. My husband took me to the doctor who gave me a shot of benadryl and then made me wait. He also told my husband to never hesitate about getting me to a doctor after a sting. I also got an Epipen. It was a very scary feeling, but I know my reaction was mild compared to that of others.

[Private_Sector_Does_It_Better]

[Sonny M]

Sonny M is seeking NerfWorld, which just isn't going to happen as long as freedom-cherishing Americans are around.

Yes, banning peanuts is now destruction of civilization as we know it.

Today we ban peanuts from school, tomorrow, the world, and then the universe.

Get a grip on reality, you would think I was advocating the overthrowing of the government over a simple school policy.

[4mycountry]

A mere inconvenience about one food item, isn't going to ruin a kids life, versus ending another kids life. We're not banning pens or pencils, or food in whole, just one item that happens to cause harm to to many kids with these allergies.

But what if the child is very sensitive to peanuts? Do you have any idea how many foods have peanuts or peanut oil in them? The list is as tall as I am! I'll say it again: homeschool the child. Make it safe for him, and easier on everyone else. I mean, come on -- this ban would have to be in place for as long as the kid is in public school. That means from about 5 to about 18. That's 13 years of everybody in every grade banning every form of peanut. That's ridiculous.

[wireman]

"Why the hell are so many people suddenly allergic to peanuts? This was not a problem when I was a kid."

Thank you!

Peanut Butter as a deadly menace?? Why aren't half the kids I grew up with dead? Everybody eats the stuff but these violent reactions (tragic though they may be) are a relatively new phenomenon.

[freespirited]

Insofar as studies are concerned, I always wonder who is sponsoring them-- the drug companies making a fortune from the vaccines?

The vaccine business has been a money-loser since Hillary got involved in the mid 90s. The result was a well-meaning but flawed piece of legislation that has caused a number of companies to leave the business and removed incentive for the rest to invest in research.

The Blue party has nerve to blame the President or the GOP for the current vaccine mess (read shortage). They brought it on with their red policies.

That said, I have to take exception to the idea that study results are a function of who sponsors them. Few scientists are that dishonest.

[DBrow]

And what about beyond school? Ban peanut in college, in the dorms and classrooms?

And the workplace, all of the workplaces?

And now that you are messing with private entities and not public, why allow restaurants to serve peanut?

My feeling on this is that you teach the child to cope with living in a risky world, and make some reasonable accommodations like a peanut-free zone (which you really can't trust). At some point the kid is going to have to learn to cope with the real world where lethal poison is sold in vending machines all over. Why not now?

If one of you were to invite me over for dinner, I'd ask that you don't serve me peanuts, or put out a bowl of peanuts in the room. A personal request for an accommodation.

[Sonny M]

I mean, come on -- this ban would have to be in place for as long as the kid is in public school. That means from about 5 to about 18. That's 13 years of everybody in every grade banning every form of peanut. That's ridiculous.

We're not banning water here.

Its one lousy vegetable (ironically, I actually like peanuts, go figure), we're not sentencing these kids to prison.

So one veggie is banned from school because of these hyper allergies (which are becoming to common now, I'd like to find out why).

We're not asking kids to alter their entire way of life, just no peanuts in school, its not like we're telling them they have to strip naked every day.

My friends sons school banned peanuts (before my friends kid got there, and not because of him) and they haven't had any problems outside of a couple of minor complaints.

Its no different then telling kids you can't bring broccali to school or something.

No PB&J sandwitches is not going to kill some kid or end the world or bring back the nazis.

The kids will be fine.

[Sonny M]

My feeling on this is that you teach the child to cope with living in a risky world, and make some reasonable accommodations like a peanut-free zone (which you really can't trust). At some point the kid is going to have to learn to cope with the real world where lethal poison is sold in vending machines all over. Why not now?

Personally, I'd just ban in grade school, by the time these kids get to High School they do know how to use a needle and stick themselves if they are going to die.

I'm not into the whole slippery slope thing where banning peanuts in a school means a nazi state of the union tomorrow.

A school banning one veggie isn't a sign of totalitarianism.

Its a mild safety precaution.

By the time they are older, they have more sense to know that peanuts can kill them, but when they are in like the 2nd grade (my friends sons age), they still have some problems with the concept.

[DBrow]

The needle thing is not an issue.

You take the epi-pen out, remove the safety, and jam the black end on your thigh.

Count to ten, and that's it! Four-year-olds can do it.

You don't automatically die from every reaction. Most often you just get sick, possibly quite sick, maybe only a little.

I'm not against peanut bans because of slippery slopes or totalitarianism creeping into our lives, it's just that coping with peanut allergy is a life skill that is better learned early than late.

Being coddled too much can lead to expectations of being coddled and given special treatment later, in adult life.

If you are one of the 1-2 million Americans with peanut allergy, it's better to deal with it yourself than force the other 286,000,000 folks to deal with it for you.

[Sonny M]

You take the epi-pen out, remove the safety, and jam the black end on your thigh.

I mentioned before my friends son has a peanut allergy, I also mentioned his school banned peanuts before he got there and not because of him.

The reason goes back a few years, the story is kind of convulated, but from what they told him and he told me, it had to do with a misshap involving the needle and a former student.

They story is kind of murky, from what I (and he) understand, years earlier another student had an allergy to peanuts, the parents told the school (but did NOT ask for a ban or anything, they gave the school an "epi-pen" for emergenices).

Here is where the story get fractured, the kid was either in kindergarden or 1st grade, now either someone gave him peanuts or a peanut product (that kids parents version) or someone had peanuts and touched him or exposed him (schools version).

Kid had a reaction and the needle was either misplaced, didn't work or something.

Kid lived but was hospitalized, there was a lawsuit, and yada yada yada.

School banned peanuts after that.

To the best of my knowledge outside of a few cranky parents, there hasn't been any problems in practise with the policy.

Cute sidestory: My friends son has a peanut allergy, but his older sister doesn't, but she tries to pretend she has an allergy to all vegtables.

It doesn't work.