dd2 has just come out in huge rash from contact with a drop of milk on neck

[Whelk]

It was my fault but dd1 touched dd2 with a drop of milk (or less) on her neck. Stupid me let dd1 walk past dd2 to get a wipe to wipe milk off and she stroked her neck

dd2 came up in a red rash with hives over about half her neck and cheek.

I am really shaky and shocked by the extent of the rash from just being touched with milk. If this is from a drop I am terrified as to what would happen if she drank some.

Right now I want to pull her out of nursery. Would this be an overreaction?

Does anyone have any wise words? Please don't berate me for being stupid. I absolutely know I was and you can't make me feel worse than I do already.

it was an accident! dont blame yourself. so long as the nursery staff are all fully informed they will be just as effective as possible at preventing contact. will her tolerance change as she gets older?

Whelk, I am so sorry to hear that. What a nightmare for you!! Glad your DD is okay.

I really do think your fears about nursery are completely understandable - I get the heebie-jeebies even thinking about leaving DS in a nursery environment with baby sick / milk spilled on carpets / on toys etc. I also don't like the idea of him having to sit on a separate table at snack time, being told he has to have different food and thinking there is something 'wrong' with him

I'm a SAHM at the moment but under some pressure from my extended family to go out to work. Last week I rang the head of the 'best' nursery in my area, described DS's allergies (same as your DD's I think, and he reacts on skin contact), and asked if she would take him - and she said no!! She said some nurseries would agree to take him but said it would be really hard to keep him safe.

Oh dear, this is probably not what you wanted to hear... sorry! Ignore me - I just wanted to let you know I am thinking of you today.

Whelk please don't blame yourself. My dd has the same reaction on contact with milk, what i do is wipe off with a damp flannel/tissue immediately and if the skin feels red and hot rinse with cold water.

She is nearly 3 now and has been going to nursery since she was 1 year old. Presumably your dd has a treatment plan at nursery in case of? If it makes you feel better chat to the staff about your concerns, what precautions they take and make sure they know exactly what to do.
I will be honest and say she has had accidents, and in all cases the staff know exactly what to do. She does not sit on a separate table for meals as it would make her feel excluded; she is aware that her food is different to the others but she is handling it well and is starting to understand why.

Don't feel bad Whelk, it's virtually impossible to eliminate all risk for your dd especially when your other child doesn't have an allergy.

Only last night I found dd (2) charging round the living room chasing ds (4 with a massive milk allergy)attempting to throw an open yogurt pot at him . Accidents happen and all we can do is try be as vigilant as we can.

We have managed 4 years with only one big disaster and that was a mistake by dh. Our childminder was an absolute star and dealt with everything fantastically well. The pre-school were pretty good once they grasped the severity of the problem and even included ds in all cooking activities. He started school in September and they've also been great so it is possible to get through things.

From what I remember you're up in my neck of the woods (Leeds area), if you ever wanted to meet for a chat I'd be happy to. It helps knowing you're not the only one dealing with problems like this I think.

Thanks for your replies. It is some help just knowing you are not the only one dealing with it.

Bilbo - that sounds good. I'm in York.

My biggest worry is if thats whathappens on contact, hat happens if she drinks some?

Does anyone have any experience of this?

what happens? not hat.
Must get new keyboard!!

Whelk check my profile for dd4 pic of drop of milk contact.

Am on phone atm so will be back later. Also chjeck www.diaryofanallergykid.blogspot.com for more stuff

I don't think we can answer that one Whelk, they're all different and each reaction can be totally different to the next in the same person.

DS had milk chocolate by accident when he was about 18 months. A really tiny piece before I managed to fish it out of his mouth. He vomited, went bright red from head to toe and did seem to have some difficulty breathing. We got him to hospital and it was treated with high dose anti histamine and oxygen. So it wasn't anaphlactic which was good and didn't need adrenaline. However his RAST levels have gone up hugely since then so I've no idea what would happen now (and don't want to find out). We have an epipen and most of the time I try not to think about it too much. I presume you have an epi pen?

I don't work on Thursdays so if you fancied meeting up at a halfway spot somewhere between Leeds & York, I'd be happy to have a chat and compare notes. I'm offline now until tomorrow but will check back then.

In the meantime don't drive yourself mad worrying about the "what if's". As long as you know the symptoms and how to deal with the problem you're as safe as you can be.

whelk, i cant answeer the what would happen if she drank milk, because aside from dd4 first reaction she has never ingested any milk, not even milk powder etc etc.

she does have an epipen but thats due to her being asthmatic as well. the two things combined could provoke a servere reaction.

as to wanting to pull her out of nursery, i dont blame yoiu. dd4 allergies are one of the main reasons i am a sahm.

Thank you again for more replies. Sorry you are all going through this too.

Your dd4's neck rash looks very similar to my dd2's reaction misdee. Gorgeous dds you have!! Good blog too!

I'm sorry for asking what her reaction would be like if she ingested milk. I know (after 4 years in the allergy game with dd1) that its impossible. I find that very hard, as I'm sure you all do.

We do have an epipen so thats one thing.

Bilbo - I work on Thursdays but am free on Mons or Tuesdays. It doesn't sound as though that would be good for you.