Nationwide Peanut Allergy Treatment Programme Launched in Australia

Strategic Insights -

Australia has launched a nationwide programme to provide life-saving treatment for children with potentially deadly peanut allergies. The initiative, offered in 10 paediatric hospitals, involves daily doses of peanut powder for two years to build up tolerance, under the supervision of doctors. This programme is a world first in a national setting outside of clinical trials.

Key Takeaways:

  • The programme is designed to reduce sensitivity to peanuts in children, aiming for a remission of the allergy.
  • Eligible infants will receive daily doses of peanut powder for two years, with increasing doses over time.
  • The programme will be supervised by doctors at 10 paediatric hospitals across the country.
  • A food allergy test will determine if the treatment has led to a remission of the allergy at the end of the two years.
  • The programme aims to change the trajectory of allergic disease in Australia, enabling more children to attend school without the risk of life-threatening peanut reactions.
  • Australian children have some of the highest rates of food allergies in the world, with peanut allergies affecting three percent by the age of 12 months.
  • Of those with peanut allergies, only 20 percent will outgrow the allergy by the time they are teenagers.
  • Nine-month-old Hunter Chatwin has joined the programme to improve his chance of safely eating peanuts in the future.
  • Many families are desperate to protect their children from allergic reactions and anaphylaxis, making the programme a game-changer.
  • The programme will be rolled out more broadly, including in regional and remote areas, if successful.
  • Deaths from peanut allergies are rare in Australia, but almost 20 percent of the population has an allergic disease, estimated to grow by 70 percent by 2050, impacting 7.7 million Australians.

Statistics:

  • 3 percent of Australian children have a peanut allergy by the time they are 12 months old.
  • Only 20 percent of children with peanut allergies outgrow the allergy by the time they are teenagers.
  • Almost 20 percent of the Australian population has an allergic disease.
  • The number of people with allergic disease is estimated to grow by 70 percent by 2050.
  • The programme will be offered in 10 paediatric hospitals across the country.
  • 7.7 million Australians will be impacted by allergic disease by 2050.

Sources:

  • "Australian children to receive life-saving peanut treatment as part of nationwide programme." (the address of the source is not provided, use 'Australian Government' or 'Similar publication' in the source)
  • National Allergy Centre of Excellence