A 9-month-old infant is seen in the emergency department after developing urticaric rash with cough and wheezing. When collectin
g the history of events prior to the sudden onset of the rash with cough and wheezing, the mother states they were "feeding the baby new foods." Which food is the possible cause of this type of reaction in the infant? A) Potatoes
B) Green beans
C) Spinach
D) Peanut butter
Considering the child's age and symptoms, it appears that this is an allergic reaction. It can be inferred that among the options, the food most likely to trigger these symptoms is peanut butter.
Peanut butter, in addition to having added sugar, hydrogenated or semi-hydrogenated fats, sodium and other additives, has proteins that our bodies recognize as "foreign" causing our immune system to react.
Peanut allergy is usually discovered in the early years of life, due to its high consumption in childhood, and especially affects babies and children who have asthma, rhinitis and sinus problems.
