Hives after eating pesto? Pine nut allergy? Please help!

[Coconuttt]

DD has come out in hives on 3 occasions now. I initially thought the culprit was grapes but I now think it was actually pesto as she’s not had grapes today so it can’t be that.

I’ve googled and it looks like it could possibly be a pine nut allergy. I know nut allergies can be the most serious. We are off on holiday this weekend so I can’t take DD to the GP until we are home. I’m thinking the GP might want to have some tests done possibly?

I will try to avoid pine nuts but I’m wondering if she can continue to eat other nuts between now and us visiting the GP? Anyone with any experience on this? Thanks so much.

https://www.anaphylaxis.org.uk/living-with-anaphylaxis/shopping-and-preparing-food/

Make sure you take the Pirton everywhere you go.

It's a very sensible question. Some people do avoid all foods with traces of nuts - there is a facebook page called the Nut Free Living Guide which lists safe foods. But a lot of people don't - it depends what you are comfortable with. I'd avoid bakeries and sandwich shops and places where cross contamination can easily occur, and foods like muesli. My DD had nut allergies, which included pine nuts. We gave her foods which said "may contain" and she never had a reaction, but some children do react to these foods. Also avoid sesame for the time being. You need an urgent GP appointment and an urgent referral to your local allergy consultant. The anaphylaxis campaign is useful, as is allergy uk. You must watch her like a hawk and make sure she doesn't eat any nuts - allergic reactions tend to get worse each time you have one. Take anti-histamines with you and read up the symptoms of anaphylaxis and dial 999 if you have any doubts. If you are eating out most places have allergy menus. Check every label of food, nuts can creep in to funny places. If she is allergic this will become like second nature to you, it's tough at first but you get used to it. Good luck!

Most likely cashew. My daughter is the same. She comes out in a rash and vomits.

Ds has a severe hazelnut allergy but has shown up negative for other nuts. We have been told to give him peanuts, cashews etc and just avoid all hazelnut products. Each exposure can cause the reaction to be worse, so until you get your dd checked, avoid pine nuts. If she hasn't reacted to peanut butter then it's safe to say she is not allergic to peanuts.

Cashew nut allergy most likely. I’m allergic to them too. They’re quite easy to avoid, however.

@pandapop17 and @Wasywasydoodah

I’ve posted a pic of the ingredients label and it seems there aren’t any cashews in this pesto.

Pine nuts aren't a recognised allergen so there is no requirement to bold them.

There is a thing called pine mouth, you get a nasty sore throat for no apparent reason,usually it's Chinese pine nuts that cause it. Tesco recalled some pesto recently, dunno if Finest was affected, but if she eats peanut butter that makes it irrelevant.

That said, Is the pesto reasonably fresh? where do you store it? What else did she eat with it? How close/far apart are the three occasions?

I'd avoid everything vaguely nutty until you can have her tested.

I'd also consider histamines, with the parmesan content, though.

I'd also consider histamines, with the parmesan content, though.

Sorry I’m clueless. What do you mean by this?

That said, Is the pesto reasonably fresh? where do you store it? What else did she eat with it? How close/far apart are the three occasions?

All 3 occasions have happened in the last 4 days. It was the same jar of pesto used. I store it in the fridge and may have gone slightly over the recommended 6 weeks from opening.

Pesto is normally ok in the fridge for 2 weeks but that jar you have there has to be used within a week not 6.

I would be very suspicious about cashew but contaminated of that pesto. Loads of pestos now contain cashew nuts as they are so much cheaper than pine nuts and they are likely made in the same factory.

Mh DS developed an allergy to cashews as a baby, lots of hives after eating cashew butter and then pesto. He was tested in an allergy clinic after the GP referred him but thankfully the allergy was mild and he grew out of it.

SIX weeks?!?! I’m surprised you’re not all ill.

The allergy could be to any of the ingredients. My DS is severely allergic to a number of foods but not nuts. People tend to fixate on nuts. Allergies are usually related to proteins. Agree carry antihistamines and be careful they don't eat the suspected allergen - pine nuts or cashews - and watch out for symptoms. Allergic reactions can worsen with each exposure.

Identifying the allergen can be tricky and will involve skin prick, blood tests and food challenges.

Oh my gosh!! I don’t know why, I was certain it was 6 weeks for pesto 😫 I feel awful now. Could that be the cause of her coming out in the hives? I feel terrible now!

It definitely looked and tasted fine. Me and my other DD haven’t been I’ll at all.

*ill

It's nothing to do with the age of the pesto!

No, the age of the pesto won’t cause hives!

I am allergic to tree nuts and sesame and have reacted to pine nuts before so now avoid them. Cashew nuts are my most severe allergy, and since some pestos contain cashew I do wonder if there could be cross contamination, if the factory also makes pesto with cashew. Even the smallest amount can trigger anaphylaxis for me.

Pine nuts are seeds so definitely avoid sesame too, to be safe until you’ve had skin prick tests done.

There’s no legal requirement to label when things may contain traces, so foods that say this aren’t any more dangerous than those which say nothing. I’d agree with avoiding bakeries, cafes etc. I do eat things which have may contain warnings or I’d rarely ever eat!

Emergency GP on Monday and get some anti histamines for use in emergencies. She may complain of an itchy throat or mouth at the start of future reactions. Reactions do tend to get worse each time, so I would be super careful and seek urgent medical advice if she has another.

Well that’s a relief that it’s not my fault. I wish I could go to the GP on monday but with our trip away, it’ll have to be after half term now 👎🏻

With an allergic reaction you could contact out of hours and get her seen her today?

My dd has an allergy and we have had to use out of hours a few times at the weekend.

They would be able to give you some guidance on what to do if it happens while you're away and prescription for medicine. Likely you can buy it over the counter as your dd is older but as it isn't licensed to sell over the counter for under 1s we always needed a prescription.

6 weeks is ok for that product refrigerated.

I react terribly to pine nuts.
Really severe vomiting, rash , swollen itchy mouth.
Not allergic to any other nuts

My little boy had this with hummus. We narrowed it down to sesame seeds. We avoid hummus and any type of Middle Eastern food with him now. I would say don't panic but avoid nuts til she sees a GP.
She has lovely eyes

DS1 had this with pine nuts. I know it was because he reacted to two home made meals with pine nuts but nothing else unusual. When I took him to the GP he said that his own child had the same allergy but that DS1 was the only other person he'd seen with it. DS1 isnt allergic to anything else.