Recently I have found parents shell-shocked to ask me questions about peanut allergies - get it, shell-shocked and peanuts?Well, humorous as that pun may be, peanut allergies are not - so let me shell out some information on this topic.How Common is this Allergy?About 2% of children in the United States are allergic to peanuts. Half of those are also allergic to tree nuts such as almonds, walnuts, pecans, cashews, and sometimes even sunflower and sesame seeds. In fact, peanut allergy is the leading cause of food-allergy related deaths in this country.How Do You Know if Your Child is Allergic to Peanuts? Usually, the first signs of an allergic reaction after eating a peanut may be a runny nose, skin rash, or a tingly tongue. If untreated, this can progress to difficulty breathing, a drop in blood pressure and, in turn, becoming unconscious. We used to usually recommend not trying a peanut in a child until they were old enough to talk to us. However, there is now more recent data to suggest that exposing infants to peanut products (at about six months of age), such as a very thin layer of peanut butter on a cracker when they are old enough to take solids, may reduce the chance of getting a peanut allergy as they get older. Just do not give a baby whole peanuts since these can be choking hazards. In the rare circumstance that your infant has severe eczema, an egg allergy, or both in early infancy, then it is recommended that you speak with your child’s health care professional or a pediatric allergist before trying that first peanut at six months of age - and to do so under medical supervision. What if Your Child Develops a Peanut Allergy? The best way to deal with this problem? Avoid foods that trigger it. Educate friends, relatives, baby-sitters, and teachers in addition to your child and family. Check food labels and let restaurants know about the allergy to avoid an accidental exposure. If an exposure occurs, peanut-allergic older children and adults should carry a prescribed self-injectable shot of epinephrine, also known as adrenaline with them. The shot should also be available to teachers, school nurses, and parents - especially if a child is too young to self-inject themselves. Once the shot is given, a child should be brought to an emergency facility for continued observation and treatment since this is a true medical emergency. A medic alert bracelet is also a good idea. Hopefully, tips like these will crack open the information you need to know when it comes to dealing with peanut allergies. Lewis First, MD, is Chief of Pediatrics at The University of Vermont Children’s Hospital and Chair of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Vermont’s Larner College of Medicine. You can also catch “First with Kids” weekly on WOKO 98.9FM and NBC5.