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What these new studies suggest are that these guidelines of avoidance and delayed introduction may have exacerbated the situation, possibly causing more kids to develop allergies.

It may, at least partially, explain why instances of allergy in children have grown in recent decades. According to Lack’s study, the prevalence of peanut allergies in children alone has doubled over the past decade in Western countries, reaching rates of 1.4 to three per cent.

The results, according to Dr. Atkinson, are consistent with other recent studies that had raised doubts about the efficacy of early avoidance; however, they go a step further.

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“This peanut study says not only that let’s not delay; let’s actually give peanuts really early,” she says. “The other studies were [merely suggesting] we can’t actually prove this delay is scientifically sound.”

Still, it’s important to approach the findings with caution. Canadian allergy experts are currently working to update their guidelines for preventing and treating allergies in children. “That was a study,” says Dr. Atkinson. “[The patients] were funded, they were motivated. They were coming to the hospital to be tested. What were doing now is, we’re putting together a group to talk about how we’re going to implement the recommendations in Canada.”

She expects those recommendations to come out towards the end of the summer or early fall. In the meantime, she urges parents to consult their children’s pediatricians or allergists about the best way to proceed.