Could new medicine help rid people of peanut allergies?

SYDNEY — A medical breakthrough could help treat and cure one of the most common food allergies.

Australian researchers have developed a medication that can help the immune system develop a tolerance to peanuts.

Children with peanut allergies were given the special probiotic for 18 months. At the end of that time, 82 percent were able to eat peanuts without having an allergic reaction.

Four years later, most of the children remained free of peanut allergies.

Researchers hope the medicine can one day be used to combat other common food allergies.

Cox Media Group