SYDNEY – In a world-first initiative, Australian children with potentially deadly peanut allergies will receive life-saving treatment through a nationwide programme. Announced on July 31, the programme will offer eligible babies daily doses of peanut powder over two years to build up their tolerance.
Officials stated that the infants would receive gradually increasing doses of peanut powder under the supervision of doctors at 10 pediatric hospitals across the country. This approach aims to reduce their sensitivity to peanuts and potentially lead to long-term remission of the allergy.
“This is the first national peanut allergy treatment programme offered in hospitals outside of a clinical trial setting,” said Ms Kirsten Perrett, head of oral immunotherapy at the National Allergy Centre of Excellence. She added that at the end of the two-year period, food allergy tests would determine if the treatment has successfully induced remission.
The programme marks a significant shift from the previous advice given to families to ensure their children strictly avoid foods containing peanuts. Australia has one of the highest rates of food allergies globally, with peanut allergies affecting three percent of children by the age of 12 months. Of those, only 20 percent outgrow the allergy by their teenage years.
Nine-month-old Hunter Chatwin, who developed hives after eating peanut butter, is among the first to participate in the free treatment programme. “We are taking part in the programme to try and improve his chance of being able to safely eat peanuts in the future,” said Hunter’s mother, Kirsten Chatwin. She emphasized the significance of the programme, stating, “Many families are desperate to protect their children from allergic reactions and anaphylaxis. To have this programme available and free at public hospitals is a game-changer.”
If the programme proves successful, it will be expanded to include more areas, including regional and remote locations. While deaths from peanut allergies are rare in Australia, nearly 20 percent of the population has an allergic disease, a figure projected to increase by 70 percent by 2050, potentially impacting 7.7 million Australians.