Could ds be allergic to mature but not mild cheddar?

[Albrecht]

ds has had fingers of mild cheddar before and we didn't notice any problems.

About half an hour ago he had some fingers of mature cheddar (same make as before) and his cheeks, lips and chin went bright red and really hot. His hands also red with lumps were he had been holding it.

He had broccoli at the same time but he has had that before.

Does this sound like an allergic reaction? Is it possible to be allergic to only some types of cheese?

Sounds like an allergic reaction. Is there any other dairy products he is allergic to?

He has had a tiny little bit of butter with no problems. Otherwise has had no other dairy - we've only just started baby led weaning few weeks ago.

Oh god, what do I do now with regards to weaning? Where can I get more info? Should I keep trying him with dairy - obviously not that same type of cheese but yoghurt etc?

If he is allergic to CMP, it's possible that the first time you gave him cheese he was sensitised, and it's only with subsequent exposure that he has had a reaction. I personally would not give ANY more products containing dairy (or soya, or eggs for that matter...) until he has been seen by a specialist, as hives and a rash are classic signs of an allergic reaction.

Plenty of other things he can be eating, rather than dairy. But if I were you, I would also get a bottle of piriton syrup whilst you wait for an appointment.

Hi albrecht, I have a two year old who has had exactly the same reaction to mature cheddar only. She is fine with mild cheddar, and other types of cheese (eg Swiss, Dutch).

She actually had her first reaction immediately before a scheduled appointment with a nurse at the local health centre. The nurse was quite frankly horrified, and insisted she got the doctor to see her. The doctor prescribed piriton.

My son (now 4) had the same, but 'grew out' of it by the time he was approximately three. He eats mature cheddar with absolutely no reaction now.

I'm afraid I have no idea what is in the mature variety, which causes such a reaction, but I just thought you might like to know it's not just your DS. She doesn't have any problems with any other dairy, either.

I think i know the reason for this. Its because some mature hard cheeses can contain elevated levels of histamine because of the breakdown of histidine (an amino acid found in cheese) by certain harmless bacteria that are used in the fermentation of the milk.

Because mature cheese is older (matured for longer), there is more opportunity for the bacteria to grow and cause a build up of histamine.

It appears that different people have different tolerances to the levels of histamine in cheese so what causes a reaction in some, won't in others but I think children are more likely to react and its the mature/extra mature that cause the problem.

Histamine is produced by the body in a classic allergic reaction so consuming it directly will produce the typical allergic reaction sysmtoms you describe.

What an interesting life I lead

Wow, Earplugs, I'm seriously impressed. I've talked to a number of professionals about this, and no-one has ever had the foggiest.

Thank you!

Gosh yes, Earplugs, that is impressive knowledge. Thank you so much. Are you a cheese maker or a prof of chemistry perhaps?

Ok I will call a halt to the dairy for now, get some piriton and a doctors appointment.

Thanks everyone.