Peanut allergy is characterized by more severe symptoms than other food allergies and by high rates of symptoms on minimal contact. Skin-prick testing and peanut-specific IgE levels do not predict clinical severity. Avoidance of peanut is difficult. Many people suffering severe relations are inadequately treated. Sufferers need education and training in the use of rescue medication.

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The scoring system developed appears to improve the sensitivity of assessment of reactions induced by DBPCFC. This is the first prospective study showing an association between PsIgE levels and clinical reactivity in DBPCFC, an effect that is more pronounced in non-asthmatics. This finding has important implications for the clinical care of subjects with food allergy. There is a poor correlation between the severity of reported reactions in the community and the severity of reaction elicited during low-dose DBPCFC with peanut.

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