L’allergie à l’arachide. État des lieux et perspectives, par le GT2A. Partie 1 : épidémiologie et fardeau de l’allergie à l’arachide

This article is a non-systematic review on the epidemiology and burden of peanut allergy. Peanut allergy is one of the most common IgE-mediated food allergies in children, with an estimated prevalence in France of 0.9% at the age of 5.5 years based on questionnaires from the ELFE cohort. Peanut allergy begins in 90% of cases before the age of 3 years and spontaneously regresses in only 20 to 25% of cases before adulthood. Peanut allergy is associated with sensitization to one or more other legumes in two thirds of cases, and sometimes with a cross-allergy. Patients with peanut allergy most often have associated atopic comorbidities, particularly asthma. Peanut is one of the most common allergens involved in severe and even fatal food anaphylaxis and is associated with a high risk of allergy recurrence. Peanut allergy leads to impaired quality of life and has a significant psychosocial impact. Peanut-allergic patients probably have a different phenotype than patients with other food allergies. Multidisciplinary care and a personalized treatment strategy should be considered in these patients.