Timing of Peanut Introduction in High-Risk Infants: AAP Interim Guidance

Target Audience: Primary care providers, allergists, and dermatologists

Background and Objective

In 2008, the AAP withdrew its 2000 recommendation that high-risk children should avoid peanut intake until age 3 years but offered no guidance on peanut introduction. Based on recent findings of a randomized, controlled trial in the U.K. showing that in high-risk infants (those with severe eczema or egg allergy), peanut introduction between ages 4 and 11 months reduced the risk for peanut allergy by 80% compared with introduction after age 5 years (NEJM JW Pediatr Adolesc Med Feb 23 2015; [e-pub] and N Engl J Med 2015; 372:803 and 875), the AAP has now offered interim guidance to clinici…