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'Peanut patch' could help cure nut allergies in children

A patch designed to cure peanut allergy has seen two-thirds of children able to eat peanuts without a reaction occurring.

Research carried out by a number of hospitals in France revealed that two-thirds of the 54 children aged five to 17, who trialled the Viaskin Peanut patch for 18 months, became less sensitive to nuts.

On average, the children who wore the patch for a year and a half were able to eat one and a half peanuts without displaying any symptoms. However, the patch was more effective for younger children rather than adolescents.

Viaskin Peanut, made by DBV technologies, aims to safely desensitise those with peanut allergies by increasing the level of peanut protein consumed without symptoms. 

Children who took part in the study were split into two groups, an ‘active group’, which saw 28 five- to 17-year-olds wear a Viaskin Peanut patch for six months and a ‘placebo group’ of 37 children who wore a dummy patch over the same time period.

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