new research on skin cream and peanut allergy

[tatt]

just got the anaphylaxis campaign newsletter and it reports a study where applying peanut protein extract to broken skin on mice interfered with the process whereby tolerance is induced when peanut is eaten. Quite a long way from that to saying that creams with oil in may cause allergy in some children but another reason to check creams carefully.

Study reference is "Epicutaneous exposure to peanut protein prevents oral tolerance and enhances allergic sensitiation. J Strid, J Hourihane et al Clin Exp Allergy 2005; 35:757-766

Interesting article about different responses of parents to a child's allergy, made me think about how much I do compared to my husband.

Tatt - was wondering what you meant by how much you do compared to your DH?
For no reason other that curiousity!

Ds could only have been exposed to peanut in Zinc and Castor oil cream. I was so upset when I realised. It's been labelled as containing arachis oil now, so if he's been born now I wouldn't have done it.

the article was about a Canadian couple where she did all the leaflets for playgroups, attended most of the doctor's appointments and so on. Made me realise that I'm always the one who arranges the epipen training, orders replacement pens, does the letters/ training of parents for playdates and so on. My husband does attend the doctor's appointments (unlike the Canadian couple).

Bobbybob I didn't realise about Zinc and castor oil cream I was wondering about the eczema creams we had.

I do all the allergy stuff here too, go to support group, attend evening seminars, do doctors visits, get prescriptions, make ALL the decisions, train everybody up, write letters to MP, get ill and end up in hospital myself...

I actually had a dream about taking prozac last night.

On the plus side I get to work from home part time so I can take on this role as Bob's allergy support representative. DH does attend appointments for acute illness, which is the most stressful.

I also think in these situations maybe one person does have to make all the decisions until the allergic person is old enough to make them themselves. It's not an area where decision by committee works. I have the casting vote on immunisation for example, because whatever happens it will be me dealing with it.

the article was about different attitudes by parents to their kids allergy. The father had given the child an ice cream without checking she had her epipen (she didn't have it). He didn't realise how fast a reaction might occur.

Made me see that my higher level of anxiety about the risks is possibly a product of the amount of time I spend dealing with the uninformed. The article also suggested that if other family members are difficult you take them with you on a visit to your consultant so its not you telling them how serious it is. Some chance of that in Britain! I may show them the anaphylaxis campaign video, another suggestion in the article.

I do everything for ds as well!!! My DH hasn't been to an allergist's appointment with us yet. In his defense we have two other children and I don't like the idea of dragging all three along!!! However, he just feeds ds whatever is in the cupboard without checking because he assumes that I have checked everything is safe. I do admit that I don't buy anything at all that is unsafe for ds (we go without) but what if I drop dead tommorrow????

I remember having a conversation with dh that went:

Me; "If I die there is some emergency neocate on the top shelf next to the infact paracetamol."

Him; "yes dear"

Hum!

Which creams contain peanut oil?

Lots of nappy rash creams contain peanut oil, some say arachis (latin name) other don't bother at all, especially on free samples. Prescription Zinc and Castor oil cream caught us out.

Oh, and I know it not a cream, but Nutella has loads more peanut oil than hazelnuts - and if you are breastfeeding that has implications.

I saw a Weleda Skin Food cream contain arachis - but when I emailed them they said none of their products contained peanut.

Surely these creams use refined oils, though.