reintroducing possible allergens

[Anonymama]

Hi,
I posted a question about my DS's reaction to tomatoes (hives - lasting about 10mns) 6 wks ago. This was after he ate a couple of meals containing whole fresh tomatoes (cooked, but probably not skinned, de-seeded, and definitely not processed)

Having done a bit of reading on-line, I cut out tomatoes entirely from his diet. We have not had an incidence of hives since then.

However, because prior to the 2 hives outbreaks he had in September he had been happily eating meals prepared with canned plum tomatoes, tomato sauce, and "fresh" manufactured tomato soup, I was wondering whether or not it is advisable to reintroduce those types of tomato into his diet (in smaller quantities).

Does anyone know whether it is best to hold off entirely for 6 months/longer, or whether it should be fairly safe (or even encouraged) to introduce tomato-based products which don't seem to cause the reaction?

I'd be grateful for your comments if you have personal experience or medical knowledge of this.

PS I haven't raised this with the GP yet as (1) we haven't needed to see her about anything else and (2) she would probably only tell me to go away and keep a food diary (which I have been doing since I took toms out of his diet).

[Mumfie68]

We've been told by the paediatrician to avoid allergy-inducing foods completely for a minimum of two years - DS has an anaphylactic reaction to dairy, and gets a swollen mouth/nausea with eggs.

[Anonymama]

Thanks Mumfie68. As hives is not such a severe reaction as your son's anaphylactic reaction, does anyone else know whether we would be at risk of aggrevating the reaction if we were to reintroduce tomatoes within the next few months?

[Heartmum2Jamie]

My son is allergic to dairy, eggs, nuts and wheat. He gets hives with diary & egg and we were told the same as mumfie86, complete avoidance for a minimum of 2 years, we are 20 months in with a view to an oral food challenge after March next year.

[MeMySonAndI]

Anonymama, the more processed the allergen the less likely that he gets a reaction to it (if he is not severely allergic otherwise avoid completely). He may not be ready to eat fresh tomato yet but he may be able to eat well cooked ones as those in sauces and soup (provided they are very well cooked / boiled for long enough ).

However, I would advise to wait at least for a couple of months, which would give his gut more time to develop and be more efficient at coping with tomatoes. When you re introduce them go little by little, no more than a spoonful or two per meal/day and check he is not reacting again, if he is, leave it for another month or 2.

DS used to get rashes after eating tomato products (for some reason he was very sensitive to Heinz products). He can eat them without problems since he was about 18m- 2yrs old, although he is not really happy of having them fresh yet.

[wb]

Hi Anonymama,

my ds has a mild allergy to dairy (hives). He is now turning 2 and can tolerate small amounts of dairy in cooked form (cakes, biscuits etc). Last week the allergy clinic doctor told us that we could try reintroducing other processed forms eg yogurt but v. gradually - half a teaspoon at a time type thing, obviously stopping at first sign of a reaction.

Her advice seemed to be based on his age (and therefore gut maturity I presume), rather than time since last reaction (3 months ago during formal challenge). But also cause of his clinical results (neg skin test, v.v. low RAST) which I guess doesn't help you much as you don't have those.

In your shoes I guess I'd wait 3/4 months then try a v. gradual reintroduction of the forms of tomato he can/could tolerate. Certainly continuing to give my ds milk in the forms he could tolerate it has done nothing to worsten his allergy.

[Anonymama]

Thanks all for your advice/experience