Need nut advice. Kerrymum I know you're out there.

[professorplum]

BIL and aunt IL are allergic to peanuts but very mildly. They both still eat them and if they have too many their faces go red and swell up (intolerance?). AFAIK, they aren't allergic to other nuts. DCs are 3.6 and 2 and have never had nuts. How do I know if they are allergic or will be allergic in the future. aunt IL was in her 20s when she became allergic. I would like them to be able to have hazelnut or cashewnut butter and almonds. HV says not to give them anything but I think she is saying that because she doesn't know. DS has viral induced asthma which he will probably grow out of. DH has asthma and hayfever. BIL also allergic to prawns. DD any I have no allergies afaik. If I give them nuts now are they more likley to develop an allergy later? Am I being over cautious?

[professorplum]

Kerrymum can you help? Please?

Or someone else

[Tamum]

Ds has a severe walnut allergy which we didn't discover until he was 9. It does sound like your children might be at risk, but I think as they get older it will be asking a lot for them always to avoid nuts without knowing. To be honest, if they are properly allergic (tongue swelling) they will need epipens, and they won't be able to get them without a diagnosis. You could try asking for hospital tests with that history, if that would reassure you?

[professorplum]

Thanks. I think I will go back to HV and be more persistent. If she doesn't know the answer then she should be able to refer me somewhere. There is a good chance that they are not allergic but I don't know how hard/easy it is to get testing and if it is appropriate at this age.

[professorplum]

Thanks Kerrymum. I will go and ask for allergy test. I think they're nuts too, esp BIL, he doesn't accept that you can have a mild reaction and then be anaphalactic (sp) next time.

[ingles2]

Don't know where you are pp but Dr's here in Kent were very unhelpful about allergy testing! Ds1 had severe peanut reaction / anaphalaxis at 5 he's now 8. He had very bad excema as baby, slight asthma also. I had no peanuts when pregnant. Anyway, instant effect from peanut, constricted throat, facial / tongue swelling and then projectile vomiting. We now have epipens. After this Dr insisted that no point in testing as he's obviously allergic so no nuts! At all,..even though as kerrymum says most nuts are not legumes. Dh said we should sit outside hospital and feed him all other nuts to see what happens!!!!!!! In end paid for allergy testing!

[chipmonkey]

I object to this thread title. Kerrymum may be argumentative but she's not a nut!

[hotcrossbunny]

Is there a site anywhere for Britain which lists nut -free restaurants? I'm a recent nut-allergic person and hate not eating out with friends and family, but most places say they can't guartantee no nuts

[professorplum]

Well, went to hv and she said the current advice is that no child should have nuts in any form until they are 5. She said wait until they are 5, give them nuts and see what happens. I said what if they are anaphylactic. She said, 'they will probably be ok'. I asked if they could have allergy tested and she said no.

Later that same day my sis saw dietician with her teeny tiny 1yo who needs to put on weight. Dietician says nuts, and peanuts are fine for 1yo if exclude risk of choking.

Now Dr. Rosemary has been on breakfast saying that there is no evidence that avoiding nuts during pregnancy or early childhood will prevent an allergy and avoidance may make an allergy more likely. Totally confused.