1yo first allergic reaction - what next?

[AbbyHammond]

My 1yo had an allergic reaction the other day after eating pesto (so I'm assuming it was cashew nuts?). She came up in quite dramatic hives on her face and neck while eating it and we gave her piriton pretty quickly which sorted it out.

I don't really know anything about allergies though and not sure what we should be doing other than avoiding cashews. Are the reactions likely to get worse? GP just said to call an ambulance if she can't breathe.

My DS1 is allergic to peanuts and some tree nuts - his consultant has advised that it's better not to avoid the ones he hasn't reacted to, as gradual exposure can help stop allergies developing. (Hence women being advised to eat peanuts while pregnant - funnily enough when I was pregnant with DS1 13 years ago the advice was the opposite and that pg women shouldn't eat peanuts - I followed the advice and lo and behold, had a child with a peanut allergy!)

But again you really need expert advice on this.

My child is allergic to some ground a tree nuts, especially cashew and pistachio and has been told to avoid all nuts including peanuts (which there is no reaction to).

My DC got referred by the GP straight away after a reaction to nuts . They'd eaten something containing more than 1 type so we were initially advised to avoid all nuts.

They got skin prick testing after a while and they been confirmed to have a peanut allergy now.

We still just have to have antihistamines everywhere (school, grandparents, take on outings). We chucked Piriton down them when they reacted too, so may have been lucky. My oldest did end up vomiting though.

They get an annual check with the paediatric allergy nurse and we have her details for help. She is going to advise the school as they are struggling with allergy policy. There are a few food allergic dc at the school and in more than one occasion food had been handed out/ shared without thinking.

I'd definitely push for testing, DS had a terrible reaction to beans and nursery accidentally gave him some. His face swelled and he had blisters on his eye balls!
They warned it would get worse each time which was scary.

He had blood tests and was monitored and thankfully he's now grown out of it. But I'd definitely have the testing so you know exactly what to avoid so it can be passed on in writing when she starts nursery if thats the case.

Hope all goes well and she gets seen soon

I don't want to sound all "cancel the cheque" about it but the GP should refer you to an allergy clinic. It's really bad practice not to.

We've had frankly-quite-shit experiences with GPs when it comes to allergies.

I think it was a locum GP I saw and she didn't seem all that confident about what she was telling me (but to be honest they can't be experts in everything).

She seemed a bit surprised that I thought the cashew could be the culprit as cashew allergies are very rare, but presumably more likely that than my 1yo has suddenly become allergic to cheese, pasta or basil?