Q My three-year-old son loves peanut butter. He also loves peanut pancakes and roasted and boiled peanuts.

A friend recently told me that kids younger than seven shouldn't be eating peanuts as it can trigger allergies later in life. If this is true, is the effect reversible? He's been eating peanut butter for over a year. I'm worried because my older son, who used to love peanuts, now steers clear of them as they make his throat itch.

A In Singapore, common foods that cause allergies include bird's nest, eggs, milk and crustacean seafood. Unlike in the West, nuts and fish are uncommon triggers of food allergies here. Many parents believe that their children suffer from food allergies. However less than 5 per cent of children and 1 per cent of adults here are affected by food allergies.

Your younger child doesn't seem to have any allergic reactions to food, including peanuts. There is no need for strict dietary restrictions as he will need a good mix of food to ensure adequate nutrition for growth.

Your older boy's complaints of itching in the throat could suggest a peanut allergy. This can and should be confirmed through allergy tests such as a skin prick or blood tests which are available at specialised allergy clinics like National University Hospital's Children's Medical Institute or KK Children's and Women's Hospital.

Dr Barry Thng

Dr Barry Thng is a consultant family physician at Alliance Healthcare Group

This story was first published in the Mind Your Body supplement on Apr 30, 2008.