Children may outgrow their peanut allergies over time and should be tested every year or so, researchers say.

Pediatric allergists in the U.S. found more people than thought – 23 per cent – will eventually outgrow their potentially life-threatening peanut allergies.

Dr. Robert Wood of Johns Hopkins Children's Center in Baltimore, Md., the study's senior author, said children with low levels of allergy antibodies may outgrow it.

Allergies can be triggered by as little as 1/1,000th of a peanut

The findings are good news for the 300,000 Canadians with peanut allergies, who face a lifetime of checking every food label and every ingredient in a restaurant meal.

The team tested 80 children aged four to 14 with well-documented peanut allergies. They used a common blood test to measure peanut-specific antibodies.

Children who had low antibody measurements ate peanut products at a doctor's office, while a physician watched carefully for symptoms such as hives, coughing and difficulty breathing.

Laura Birdis

Laura Birdis has an anaphylactic reaction to peanuts, meaning the food can put her body into a life-threatening shock. Birdis says she's afraid to get tested.

"I wouldn't like to do that," said Birdis. "I don't feel it would be very safe."

Allergy specialist Dr. Peter Vadas of the University of Toronto said the fear is probably misplaced most of the time.

"If they outgrow their peanut allergy, they can abandon all of those precautions and lead a normal life," said Vadas.

The researchers also found a small but significant chance the allergy can return. The study appears in the July issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.