About LEAP and Its Consequences in Medical Practice & Prevention and Lifestyles

The study I touched on in my previous post, Learning About Peanut Early, confirmed that early exposure to the product, in controlled doses, can actually significantly reduce the risk of an allergic onset later on in life. The test was carried out on children who were considered at-risk of developing peanut allergies later in life, based on skin-prick tests and their allergies to things like milk and eggs.Experts quickly jumped onboard and started debating the ways through which not only medical professionals should approach the findings, but also about how they should be implemented worldwide. The same experts continuously warn parents that the study is not a base for giving their children peanuts or products containing them, unless they were instructed to do so by their physicians or pediatricians and the practice is done in a controlled environment that disposes of the necessary equipment to deal with emergencies.The problem arising from the study is that medical professionals from around the world would need to be instructed in finding new approaches in dealing with peanut allergies. Skin-prick tests are crucial, and without them, the study wouldn’t have been possible in the first place. So getting those tests in areas where there are none is a huge priority.Another issue is that this whole idea is based on a very strict timeline, so timing, in this case, is the most important factor. Skin-prick tests and other signs like egg allergies can quickly determine whether an infant is prone to developing a peanut allergy immediately. A course of action can only be followed once this has been confirmed, and, once again, only under the strict supervision of a professional healthcare provider.As these debates unfold and solutions are being brought to the forefront, new studies are called for. Can the practice be applied to children over 1 year of age, and will the results confirm the practice in that case as well? Many more questions remain unanswered, but now that a red flag has been raised, there’s little doubt that steps will be taken in the right direction in due time.