Peanut Allergy Fix?

Many people wouldn’t think twice about eating a peanut butter sandwich. But for the 1 in 50 kids in the U.S. who have peanut allergies, this snack could be deadly. A new treatment could help.

An allergic reaction happens when the body’s disease-fighting immune system mistakenly attacks a harmless substance. That causes symptoms like itching, rashes, or even trouble breathing and a sudden drop in blood pressure. Scientists at Stanford University in California found that just one injection of a specific antibody could halt peanut allergies for up to six weeks. The protein targets and blocks one of the immune molecules that causes the body to respond negatively to peanuts.

“[The antibody] might be able to prevent some of the allergic reactions that can occur,” says Kari Nadeau, who led the study.