Doctors Discover Dramatic Increase In Peanut Allergies

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by Kirk Hawkins
Bio | Email | Follow: @kirkhawkins

Story Created: Sep 14, 2012 at 10:46 PM EDT

Story Updated: Sep 14, 2012 at 10:46 PM EDT

CHARLOTTE, N.C.--Kameron Haney left the doctor this afternoon after getting his weekly shot to protect himself from peanuts. His allergies dictate everything he eats. "Everytime I ask if they fry in peanut oil and if they fry I can't eat it," he said.

The 12-year-old is one of the millions of children across the country with peanut allergies. In a new study, researchers say the population of peanut allergies may have tripled over the last decade.
Dr. Gray Norris said he's also seen an increase at the Carolina Asthma and Allergy Center. He believes the increase has something to do with the way we live.

"We live very clean, we don't get sick anymore, our immune systems are not stressed and because of that we seem to attack things we shouldn't seem to be attacking," Norris said.

Peanut allergies are so severe  that in some cases even touching them can be dangerous. Doctors at U.N.C. Chapel Hill are researching peanut allergies and working to make them permanently go away. "I'll be happy...and I could eat anything," said Haney.

While Kamaron is looking forward to the day that happens, in the meantime he still  carries around this Epi-Pen in case of an emergency. And that's just fine with his mom who see's a silver lining.
"It keeps him away from a lot of candy so it's a good thing," said South Charlotte Resident Donna Haney.

Doctors say twenty percent of children with peanut allergies will outgrow them. Researchers say it could still take at least five years before a food allergy treatment is developed.

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