Children with asthma may also have undiagnosed peanut allergies, a study has found, as the symptoms are so similar.

Children with asthma may not realise they are allergic to peanuts because the symptoms are so similar, a study has suggested.

Scientists who carried out a study in the United States said symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing and coughing are seen in both conditions.

They analysed the records of more than 1500 children from the paediatric respiratory clinic at Mercy Children's Hospital in Toledo, Ohio, and found one in 10 tested positive to peanut sensitivity.

However, more than half (53 per cent) of these children and their families were not aware and did not suspect there was any sensitivity to peanuts.

They found the prevalence of known peanut allergy was similar across age groups.

"Many of the respiratory symptoms of peanut allergy can mirror those of an asthma attack, and vice versa," lead author Robert Cohn said.

"Examples of those symptoms include shortness of breath, wheezing and coughing.

"This study demonstrates children with asthma might benefit from a test for peanut sensitivity, especially when control of wheezing and coughing is difficult to achieve.

"If a physician is having this problem, or if a parent notices it in his or her asthmatic child, they should consider testing, even if they believe their child is not sensitive to peanuts."

He added that further research should be carried out into the connection.