What is peanut allergy?

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A food allergy is caused when a person's immune system mistakenly believes that a harmless substance, in this case a food, is harmful. In its attempt to protect the body, it creates specific IgE (immunoglobulin E) antibodies to that food. The next time the individual eats that food, the immune system releases massive amounts of chemicals and histamines. These chemicals trigger a cascade of allergic symptoms that can affect the respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract, skin, or cardiovascular system. Read the article