Children's nut allergies seem to crop up the most around Halloween and Easter

Reactions to nut allergies in children tend to crop up around Halloween and Easter, according to new research. Scientists looked at nearly 1,400 instances of anaphylaxis in children in Canada between 2011-2020, and found that there was around a 70% higher rate of anaphylaxis due to unknown nuts around Halloween and Easter. There was an 85% higher rate of a reaction due to peanuts around Halloween (and 60% increase around Easter). No similar relationship existed for other major holidays, including Christmas, Diwali, Chinese New Year, or Eid Al-Adha. Children are more likely to get candies from people who may not be aware of their allergies during Halloween or Easter, which may explain the association, the authors suggest.