peanut_allergy
Peanut Allergy Experiment in Young Children
Description
In the late 1990s, it was believed that young children should exclude peanuts from their diets to reduce the chance of developing an allergy. In 2008, researchers were no longer so sure. This experiment evaluates whether peanut exposure is helpful or harmful. A peanut diet regimen (consume or avoid) was assigned to over 500 young children during years 2-5, ages during which children had previously been told not to eat peanuts. The key outcome was testing for a peanut allergy when each child turned 5.
Usage
peanut_allergy
Format
A data frame with 30 rows and 2 variables.
- had_early_risk
Indicates if the child was deemed to be at elevated risk of developing a peanut allergy at the start of the study based on a pin-prick test.
- regimen
The peanut regimen assigned for the child, either "avoid" or "consume".
- allergic
Indicates if the child had developed a peanut allergy by the end of the study.
Source
Du Toit G, Roberts G, et al. 2015. Randomized Trial of Peanut Consumption in Infants at Risk for Peanut Allergy. New England Journal of Medicine 372:803-813.
See also: The Facts about Peanut Allergies Might Surprise You (Healthcare Triage episode).