Peanut allergy ‘more common in boys in England’

Boys in England are more likely than girls to be diagnosed with a peanut allergy, according to the latest research from the University of Edinburgh.

The potentially fatal allergies also appear to affect children from higher-income homes the most.

Scientists reached these conclusions after analysing health records from more than 400 English GP practices between 2001 and 2005.

The government-funded study found that boys under the age of 20 are almost a third more likely to have a peanut allergy than girls of the same age.

However, adult women are more at risk than adult men – possibly because females are more likely to visit their GP and obtain a diagnosis, the researchers said.

The study in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology also indicates that peanut allergies are not as common as previously believed.

Lead researcher Dr Daniel Kotz said: "Having a serious allergy like this can cause great anxiety and stress to those affected. We now need more research to help explain why the condition occurs relatively more often in boys and affluent people."