Would you try dairy with your child in this situation?

[VelvetCushions]

Ds2 has multiple allergies. I got him tested and all the suspicions I had were confirmed by testing positive to egg, fish, nuts, lentils. The only surprise was that he tested negative for dairy.
The dr wants us to do a food challenge for dairy at the hospital. Its taking ages to get a referral and I wondered if I should just try with some dairy at home?
His past reactions to dairy were excema and vomiting. He reacted to some crappy cheesey crisps once and his lips swelled. I can't be sure if that was down to dairy or not.

Would you try a bit of dairy at home or should I just leave it?

[wheredidmyoldlifego]

Our DS also allergic to things incl. nuts, seeds and eggs. Waited for diary challenge but ended up having to give milk to him due to other underlying illnesses and it was the only thing he would drink / eat - it was calories etc so no problems and the meds he was on prevented massive reaction to the milk (chemotherapy).

However, would encourage you to wait and avoid diary in the meantime. If he is happy with other forms such as rice or oat milk, then why worry - you're already having to exclude things due to his other allergies so he should hopefully be used to you and he having to be careful.

I think if you can wait, then do so; he's had previous reactions so take your time, try to be patient and let the hospital do it in controlled conditions.

Hope that helps.

[MummyDragon]

Sorry you're having a touch time with your DS' allergies - must be very stressful for all concerned.

I would definitely not try to introduce dairy at home if you have been advised by a doctor to do the food challenge at hospital.

I'm saying this as someone who has an allergy herself. If someone tried to make me try some of the stuff I'm allergic to at home, without doctors on standby, supplies of adrenalin, steroids and cardiac defibrillators, I would stab them!!

Has your GP written the referral letter? If so, can you be a bit sneaky and phone the paediatric / allergy department at the hospital and ask to make the appointment yourself?

[trixymalixy]

No I wouldn't,especially as his lips swelled. Reactions can get more severe with every exposure.

[tatt]

How old is the child, how long ago was the lip swelling, were tests both blood and skin prick or something less reliable? With a negative test for milk allergy I'd be thinking more in terms of intolerance and probably outgrowing sometime between 3 and 5.

So might try a bit of live yoghurt, keeping a bottle of piriton handy and testing on their skin first.

[bridewolf]

in a word no.

the reason the doc is going for a food challenge in a HOSPITAL SETTING, is because he/she thinks its a safer setting.
food challenges are only offered , for those with IGE allergies, not intolerances of low severity.

it would be careless and stupid to do a home challenge when you are lucky enough to be offered the correct, and safe medical support.

[VelvetCushions]

Thanks for your advice. I guess I'm just impatient. If ds(21 months) has outgrown his milk allergy, it would make life so much easier for us.
I wouldn't have thought of giving it to him at home ordinarily, its just that he tested negative to skin prick test so I got a bit excited
There was a period of time when he was about 18 months where I thought he'd outgrown his milk allergy and he was happily eating yoghurts and porridge but had a reaction again after a couple of weeks. I haven't tried it again since then.

I did try some on his skin the other day and no reaction at all.

[nickschick]

What Im going to say isnt medically supported but.....our ds3 has an intolerance to dairy - he is now 8 he can tolerate small controlled amounts but after a period of time that tips the scales and he gets very bad tummy aches diarrohea and vomiting.

For a long time he had NO dairy only cow and gate baby milk this for a strange reason the specialist managed to explain to me he was able to tolerate.

When he was about 2 we moved and suddenly I had no specialist to advise me and when we booked into the new Dr he very practically told me that we knew ds3 couldnt eat much of it and that eventually he would eat something that would ordinarily set him off and then i would find out how 'intolerant' ds3 was.

I was a bit shocked but i understood what the dr was saying- and so one day ds3 drank milkshake yes he was sick then a few weeks later he ate cheese ....he was ok and so we have gradually learnt what he can eat in what amount.