I read a study from American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, which said there is “no evidence” that peanut dust becomes airborne. However, I have read several news articles about people with severe nut and peanut allergies having bad reactions:
https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/co-down-mum-could-died-23332855
In another case, a 14 year old girl had a reaction that caused her to lose consciousness after a passenger kept eating nuts next to her:
I know that in science, a lack of evidence of something happening under controlled conditions doesn’t mean that something isn’t possible or doesn’t happen. For a long time, there was also no evidence that germs existed. Blaming the reactions on “hysteria” seems like ableism to me, similar to how people used to blame ME/CFS on “laziness”. With the peanut allergy on flights, I’m not sure there’s an ethical way to properly test this.
I developed a severe peanut allergy when I was 10. I’m 35 now. I went into anaphylaxis from eating two milk chocolate m&m’s that had traces of peanut. I developed this allergy shortly after my last ever flight. I’ve never eaten actual peanuts.
I have family in New Zealand, which is very far away from me. I haven’t visited them ever since I was 10. Is flying too risky for me? I’m going to be flying over the ocean most of the flight, and all my Epi Pens do is give me an extra 20 or so minutes to get to the hospital.
I would say to go on the flight but be prepared just in case. Have an epi pen with you, Benadryl, whatever you need to recover when the reaction hits. You could even wear a mask if the people around you are eating peanuts. For me i would go ahead with your trip and not let the possibilities stop you from living your life as you want.
Re epi pens, and apologies if this is a stupid question - could people for whom they help after a reaction potentially use them as a preventative measure? ie use the pen before any reaction takes place, to try and stop one happening at all?
I’m sure the answer is no, or else that would be what people did, but it occurred to me.
Taking an oral steroid like prednisone can help prevent asthma attacks for milder allergies, but that might not be sufficient for a severe peanut allergy.
Epinephren is not a gentle drug. You do not want to have to use an epi pen if you can avoid it. It causes the heart to race and result in lots of side effects that would make a flight extremely uncomfortable. I think it’s also metabolized quickly enough that a single dose is not going to last a whole flight.
I’m not an expert though, I just have multiple family members with moderate to severe allergies.
Ah ok, thank you for that. Yeah, seems like sticking an epi pen in just before boarding might not be the best plan! Cheers 👍
Epipens do not always stall or stop anaphylaxis as well. It’s standard practice to carry two and use both in a time frame following exposure. Epipens are more a “hope it helps until I can get somewhere with medical care” rather than a “this will solve my exposure”.
Right, I see what you mean. Thanks 👍