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Allergies and intolerances

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6 Yr old being aggressive - plus other intolerance symptoms - or is he just being naughty?!

18 replies

organiccarrotcake · 15/10/2010 22:59

My 6yo DS is, we think, somewhat intolerant to a variety of foods and usual "allergens" such as dust mites. Our reasoning is that he has eczema and unexplained tummy aches, but the GP refused to give him allergy tests because she said that it would probably just show up the usual suspects (wheat, dairy, egg etc) and to limit his diet would be too limiting, so not to bother.

I wasn't happy with this but I really pushed it, and she totally refused. In the end I went to our local Chinese doctor who did a screen using a lock of his hair. Now I am totally skeptical about this, but at the same time my father did the same thing (he has eczema and psoriasis) and by cutting out the main things they recommended it's made an absolutely massive difference to him.

So we've cut down, but not removed dairy, giving him skimmed milk for instance instead of full cream. These things seem to have helped his skin a lot.

However, he's still showing other signs of what I believe are food intolerances and looking online today other things which I'd not known about and seem rather odd - like a spotty botty!! Also black smudges under his eyes, looking drawn and tired although he gets a good 12 hours at night, itchy skin (aside from the eczema) and eczema itself. He gets unexplained tummy aches which he's been twice refered to a paed consultant for but they can't find anything wrong. He's not coeliac - that's been tested by the paed consult.

And to top it all we've just had complaints from school that he's not concentrating well and is being aggressive to other children (hitting them when they don't do what he wants). He seems rather OCD to us - gets something in his head and gets upset if that doesn't happen. Not autistic (not that I'm an expert) but just he likes to be in control if that makes sense.

I've made an appointment with the GP (a different one) but would really like some guidance as to what I should ask for, if that's ok. I don't know whether the behaviour is linked. I don't even know if he's intolerant of anything, only what the Chinese doc's testing came back with (which was a long list). I don't want to start to cut out foods on the basis of an alternative medicine recommendation, but at the same time I'm at a loss as to how to move forward.

Incidentally, DS2 who is 3 months and EBF appears to be dairy intolerance via my milk, showing signs of reflux if I consume dairy products. DS1 had reflux as a baby and I simply treated it with Gaviscon, and weaned at 4 months per HV's advice. Formula was introduced then, although I BF until he was 15 months. This time I've researched it all endlessly and refused Gaviscon for DS2, treating instead the cause apparent, not the symptoms.

OP posts:
nottirednow · 16/10/2010 09:16

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ppeatfruit · 16/10/2010 10:20

organiccarrot Lol at the name. It is helpful to research the blood type diet by Dr peter D'Adamo if you know yr and yr DCs blood type you can use that as a guide to help you; wheat tends to make O types aggressive.

ppeatfruit · 16/10/2010 10:25

I have followed the blood type (according to my experience as well I'm not totally obsessive!) for years and my mum and Cliff Richard; i prefer to be limited than have arthritis, asthma, eczema, etc.

martini82 · 16/10/2010 10:30

have you tried using goats dairy instead of cows dairy?? apparently it can help reduce the eczema and it still has calcium in it

organiccarrotcake · 16/10/2010 13:02

Thanks everyone. Sorry if this was asked recently, I should have searched the boards more carefully. Interesting that allergy testing won't pick up intolerances. How does it work, say, if he's (for the sake of argument) intolerant to both dairy and wheat - and I take one out of his diet but the other is still there - so I wouldn't then be able to work out that either caused the problem....

You say GPs can't help. Who can?

Dehydration is interesting. I will get him to drink more and see what happens. Not come across that one.

It seemed unlikely that intolerances can cause bad behaviour but I keep seeing it on the Internet. I am not looking for a cop-out, but a reason behind it - but I'm not assuming that my child's an angel and something else is "making" him misbehave. I just want to eliminate all options.

What effect will reducing fat in his diet have? I mean, are you saying that a lower fat diet may improve his eczema? Is this just milk fats or would all fats be implicated? Obviously on the understanding that 6 yr olds need plenty of "good" fats in their diet...

I Googled the dirty dozen and got a list of foods which are high in pesticide residue. Is that what you mean?

Not heard of the blood type diet - I'm off to research that next! Many thanks!

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nottirednow · 17/10/2010 09:43

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organiccarrotcake · 17/10/2010 11:51

Believe me, I'm talking to him about his behaviour!!! I'm just trying to cover all bases but as I've said, I'm not excusing his behaviour or assuming that it's out of his control.

Noone has mentioned dehydration before despite him seeing 3 consultant paeds!!! Angry

I'm being referred to a dietician and will see what they advise. I will use common sense if I'm not happy with their suggestions.

OK re additives. I can see a packed lunch in his future.

Cripes, wheat and dairy removal = tough :( I'm dairy free and it's hard. Does removal of dairy include products with tiny amounts in, eg I make home-made bread with a tablespoon of milk powder in (DS2 tolerates that) although obv this is wheat, but you take my point. Mind you, I'm shocked at what some parents and kids go through on this board and I'm aware that this is relatively very minor :(

Goat's milk is no good as he hates it. I will see how he finds rice milk on cereal.

Thank you again. Your information is really helpful and your time much appreciated.

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OkieCokie · 17/10/2010 14:14

I have to disagree with the advice that skin prick and RAST testing doesn't help with intolerances. I think it does. Admittedly rots your little one does not seem to be allergic (as he is 6 and have been "tolerating" these foods) but these tests with indicate where sensitivities lie and to what. They give an indication of a likelihood of a reaction but not how strong that reaction would be therefore don't really diferentiare between allergy and intolerances. Intolerfances present in ezcema, tummy upsets etc. However, a reaction is a reaction and it would give you some indication of what foods to maybe cut out of his diet and monitor his skin and tummy issues. This should be done under the guidance of a dietician too.

I believe if you cut a food then the only way to test the results is to really cut out all of that group fpor a period of time - it is a lot of reading labels but you soon get used to it. You can make bread without any milk powder (Google recipes) or you can buy it in the "free From" aisles in the supermarket. Genius bread is good if he can tolerate Egg, Enge G bread is good for non wheat, diary and egg. Could soya milk be an alternative milk for now if goats is a no go? It is difficult at first but worth it and you get used to it. As I say it is probably best to get him tested properly so you are not cutting out stuff unnecessarily.

organiccarrotcake · 17/10/2010 20:08

Thanks oaks. I will see how it goes on Thursday at the docs...

Is it worth, at this point, getting Comma checked too? He's only 3 1/2 months and appears to be reacting to dairy in my diet.

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OkieCokie · 17/10/2010 20:20

Yes, I reckon. FWIW the paed specialist I see has already said she will check baby#2 when he/she arrives. Let's hope this Dr is a bit more understanding. You could always read up on stuff on here before you go.

organiccarrotcake · 17/10/2010 20:32

Right, I will do that then. Thanks for the link, that's great. Knowing stuff in advance is half the battle. :)

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auntevil · 18/10/2010 11:16

I agree with noticed that the intolerance cannot on its own cause bad behaviour, but the tiredness can be adding to it as can dehydration and any discomfort that he may be feeling if he is intolerant to some foods. I would also suggest that hormones at this age can also play a part as well. He may be having a waft of testosterone at the moment that is causing more aggressive behaviour. Boys get these build ups at different times in their growth and it can have an effect. If he had previously not had aggressive incidents, and it is a relatively new development, check it out.
If it's a permanent feature - ask GP to refer to a developmental paediatrician.

nottirednow · 18/10/2010 11:20

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Woodhen · 18/10/2010 14:31

Um just reading this with interest as I was the other poster with a similer issue. I just wanted to post as I noticed you were thinking of using Rice milk - Im pretty sure I read on the FSA website that Rice Milk is not recommended for children due to traces of arsenic - "ducks in case im completely wrong!!"

pagwatch · 18/10/2010 14:44

DS2 has massive intolearnces which do affect his bahaviour to the extentthat if he eats a wrong substance he can self harm or be aggressive. His tendency to unreasonable/irrational tantrums increases and he gets bloating, dark circles and very emotional ( sad)
He has to avoid gluten and dairy and many additives. He has autism.

Dukandoit · 18/10/2010 16:07

I've known yeast intolerance to cause aggressive/irrational behaviour especially when removed from diet then reintroduced, actually had this effect on me in the past Blush

mistlethrush · 18/10/2010 16:20

Chocolate (the cocoa bit) does it for me Blush

nottirednow · 19/10/2010 08:59

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