Reliable peanut allergy statistics are not that easy to come by. There is a lot of available research on food allergies in general but not too many studies have been done on peanut allergy alone.
The internet is littered with hair-raising numbers about peanut allergy and other nut allergies but close examination may reveal that these U.S. peanut allergy statistics have been extrapolated or taken from studies with non-representative sample sizes.
- Peanut allergy is the most common food allergy among children.
- Peanut allergies have tripled in the past twenty years.
- Peanut allergies have affected 1.2% of the overall U.S. population.
- Approximately, 1.2 million, or just over 2% of children and teens, have been diagnosed with a peanut allergy.
- There has been an increase of 21% of peanut allergies in children since 2010.
- Only 20% of children outgrow their peanut allergy.
- Between 2001 and 2017 the incidence of peanut allergies in infants under the age of one year has increased threefold from 1.7% to 5.2%.
Whether you think that prevalent peanut allergy statistics overstate or understate the problem, the important things to remember are:
- Peanut allergy is a very real problem with a potentially fatal reaction
- Someone who suffers a peanut allergy reaction should seek immediate medical attention
- Epinephrine (adrenaline) is the only available treatment for a severe peanut allergy reaction
- There are many nut-free foods and resources available to those with a peanut or other nut allergy
Here are a few related peanut allergy statistics accompanied by links to their sources. We encourage you to follow the links for a better understanding of the problem.