Peanut allergies may be prevented, new research finds

(NewsNation) — New research out of Northwestern University suggests there may be a way to prevent peanut allergies in children.

According to the National Institutes of Health, nearly 0.5% of kids around the world had a peanut allergy in 1997. Numbers have skyrocketed since then, with 2% of children being allergic to peanuts.

Old guidance instructed parents to keep babies away from peanuts, but new guidance from researchers says early peanut introduction could reduce or even prevent the risk of allergies later in life. While it has been in place for years, doctors haven't always been alerting parents properly.

Dr. Ruchi Gupta, a professor of pediatrics and medicine at Northwestern University and the senior author of the study, said it finally cracks the code to make it easier for doctors