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Doctors recommend early exposure to prevent peanut allergies

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CHICAGO (AP) – A pediatricians' group is recommending that infants at high risk of peanut allergies be given foods containing peanuts before they turn 1.

The guidance is in response to a major allergy study published earlier this year that found that exposure to peanuts in infancy seemed to help build tolerance – contrary to conventional thinking.

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Allergy tests are recommended first for at-risk infants. These are youngsters who've had skin reactions to eating eggs or a severe eczema skin rash.

The advice comes in a consensus statement that the American Academy of Pediatrics helped prepare and endorsed in June along with the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology and several foreign allergy groups.

The academy is releasing the statement online Monday in the journal Pediatrics.