Peanut allergy in relation to heredity, maternal diet, and other atopic diseases: results of a questionnaire survey, skin prick testing, and food challenges

Objectives: To determine rates of other atopic manifestations in people with peanut allergy and the prevalence of such allergy in their families. Design: A survey of people with self reported peanut allergy and people referred by their general practitioner for suspected peanut allergy; survey and skin testing of 50 children with reported peanut allergy and their available first degree relatives. Subjects: 622 adults and children with reported, suspected, or known peanut allergy. Main outcome measures: Prevalence of peanut allergy and other allergies in the families of people with peanut allergy. Results: 622 valid completed questionnaires were returned out of the 833 questionnaires dispatched (74.7%). All forms of atopy were both more common in successive generations (P