Allergic reactions to nuts peak around Halloween and Easter

New research identifies a rise in pediatric cases of anaphylaxis in response to peanuts and unknown nuts during Easter and Halloween.

A fresh study concludes that Easter and Halloween are connected with a rise in cases of nut-related anaphylaxis - a kind of severe allergic reaction.

The research, which features in the journal CMAJ, can help public awareness campaigns give attention to particularly risky times of the entire year.

Based on the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, anaphylaxis is a potentially life-threatening allergic attack. The most common reactions are to insect stings, latex, medications, and types of foods.

If a person is allergic to something, their immune system overreacts to a usually benign substance that your body mistakenly perceives as a threat. This reaction could cause a variety of symptoms that tend to be localized to the affected area, such as itching, swelling, and sneezing.

If one has a more severe allergic attack, they may experience the symptoms in more than one part of their body, and the risk associated with these symptoms increases.

Scientists have defined anaphylaxis as an extreme allergic reaction that involves two or more organ systems or hypotension, which is abnormally low blood pressure.

A person may begin to experience the symptoms of anaphylaxis 5-30 minutes after coming into contact with the substance so that they are allergic.

These symptoms range from a red, itchy rash, swelling around the throat or on other areas of the body, loss of consciousness, difficulty breathing, and nausea and diarrhea.

A study looking at data from 2009-2010 suggested that 8% of children in the United States had a food allergy, the most typical being truly a peanut allergy. Of the kids with a food allergy, almost 39% had a brief history of severe reactions.

Allergies to tree nuts, such as walnuts, almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, pecans, and pistachios, are also among the most typical food allergies.

Researchers have suggested that the prevalence of food allergies among small children is increasing. If parents or caregivers are aware of the allergy, protecting the child while they are at home depends on them being wary of what the kid eats.

However, the tradition of gift-giving, often in the sort of candy, implies that holiday seasons pose a specific challenge for parents and caregivers trying to regulate what their children eat.

In today's study, the researchers wished to see whether there was an association between particular holidays that persons typically celebrate in Canada and the rate of children presenting at hospitals with anaphylaxis in response to peanuts, tree nuts, or unknown nuts.

To get this done, they analyzed data within the period between April 15, 2011, and January 31, 2020, from pediatric emergency departments in four Canadian provinces.

They focused specifically on the holiday season of Halloween, Christmas, Easter, Diwali, Chinese New Year, and Eid al-Adha. The researchers looked at data from your day prior to the holiday, the day of the vacation, and the 3 days following the holiday.

Altogether, the researchers discovered 1,390 cases of anaphylaxis associated with peanuts, tree nuts, or unknown nuts. Anaphylaxis was determined both prospectively, by the doctors formally identifying it at the time, and retrospectively, by the researchers analyzing the charts of the patients.

Overall, 62.2% of the children presenting with nut-induced anaphylaxis were boys, and the children had a median age of 5.4 years.

The researchers discovered that, compared with the rest of the year, peanut-induced anaphylaxis increased by 85% during Halloween and 60% during Easter. Anaphylaxis in response to unknown nuts increased by 70% during Halloween and Easter.

The researchers found no significant change in the rate of nut-induced anaphylaxis for Christmas, Diwali, Chinese New Year, or Eid al-Adha.

According to Mélanie Leung, a fourth-year medical student at McGill University, Canada, and co-author of the analysis, “[t]he difference in the anaphylaxis incidence among holidays may have been because of the social setting where each holiday takes place.”

“At Halloween and Easter,” Leung continues, “children often receive candies and other treats from persons who may be unacquainted with their allergies. The lack of such an association at Christmas maybe because Christmas is a more intimate celebration among family members and good friends, who are more vigilant regarding allergen exposure.”

For co-author Dr. Moshe Ben-Shoshan, a pediatric allergist and immunologist at the Montreal Children’s Hospital of the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) and a scientist at the study Institute of the MUHC, the findings advise that targeted information regarding nut allergies may be valuable:

“Our findings suggest that educational tools to improve vigilance regarding the occurrence of potential allergens are required among children with food allergies, their families, and laypeople getting together with children who've food allergies. Newer strategies targeting intervals associated with high anaphylaxis risk are required.”

- Dr. Moshe Ben-Shoshan