(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Doctors may have found a cure for dangerous peanut allergies.

Childhood allergies to peanuts have become widespread in recent years, causing potentially life-threatening reactions when exposed, even in trace amounts, to peanuts. Now, in a groundbreaking study, doctors found exposing children to a daily dose of peanuts has been so successful in some patients; they are now off treatment and even eating the nut that once put them in danger.

In a carefully controlled setting, researchers began by administering daily doses as small as one-one thousandth of a peanut to children with peanut allergies, then gradually building on their exposure. Eight to ten months later, researchers found patients were able to tolerate ingestion of up to 15 peanuts per day without reaction. Up to two and a half years later, some patients are able to remain off treatment and without reaction.

Study authors say this study was among a small number of subjects, so further study will need to be conducted to see the therapy’s widespread and long term success. They caution the therapy should not be attempted in the home and note that some patients are too sensitive to peanut allergens to undergo the therapy.

SOURCE: Presented at the American Academy of Asthma and Immunology’s annual meeting in Washington, D.C., March 13-17, 2009