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Allergies and intolerances

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Original poster

DS has a nut allergy!

22 replies

VJay · 18/01/2011 20:31

Ds2 is 16 months, and reacted to a tiny bit of peanut butter I gave him. There is no history of nut allergies in the family but I still gave him a tiny bit. He didn't even eat it, it just touched his lip then he threw it on the floor. About 5 mins later he started to cry and his lip started to swell. By the time we got him to the hospital (about 5 mins), his face was very swollen with a red blotchy rash. It was very scary.

Anyway, we now have lots of piriton and 2 epipens, and have been told to avoid all nuts and are waiting to see paediatrics.

What I want to know is what kind of testing will they do? Will they be able to tell us if it's just peanuts or all tree nuts too? Will he grow out of it? Are seeds included in this? I have lots of questions at the moment and just wanted to chat about it all really.

OP posts:

keresley · 18/01/2011 20:43

We found out my son had a nut allergy at 18 mnths when he ate some of his uncles peanut butter roll. He had an anaphylactic shock. He is now 6. We also carry epipens and piriton everywhere with us. At my sons allergy clinic they see him yearly. On the visit - they do skin prick testing. They place a droplet of potential allergen (i.e. peanut, walnut, egg etc) on his arm and them prick the droplet with a small needle. You then wait for 30 minutes- the ones he is allergic too swell up like a giant knat bite. It is an annoying rather than painful procedure as it itches if they react. Yes they will be able to tell you exactly which nuts he is allergic too as there is a separate test for each substance. Hope this helps.

Original poster

VJay · 18/01/2011 20:49

Thanks keresley yes that is helpful.

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aimingforthesky · 18/01/2011 20:50

Very similar to my Dd2 at 13months she had a tiny bit of peanut butter with a similar reaction. Was referred to paediatric allergy clinic and had skin prick testing for all sorts of nuts and common allergies- she was 'only' allergic to peanuts so avoided all peanuts and 'may contain' foods and carried around epipens and piriton.

Had repeat testing age 5yrs which was still positive and told to return age 10. In October last year age 10 she had negative test and had food challenge in dayward when she eventually managed to eat 6 whole peanuts with no reaction.

So happily she appears to be one of the few who grew out of it so it is possible but I have always lived with the thought she would always be allergic. We joined the anaphylactic campaign which has lots of useful info/local contacts/ workshops for children and parents.

HTH

Original poster

VJay · 18/01/2011 21:02

That's good news aiming that your dd grew out of it. Ds's was severe and I'm worried that he wont, but reading your post has given me hope.

I will have a look at this anaphylactic campaign.

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OmniumAndGatherum · 18/01/2011 21:05

We had the same as keresley for DS, who's allergic to nuts, trees, grass, dogs, cats, dust... the joyous list is endless. It was absolutely painless for him, and they gave him PIriton afterwards to reduce the swellings on his arm. Am hoping he is one of the ones who grows out of it, though he's nearly nine and was re-tested only recently...

aimingforthesky · 18/01/2011 21:07

Anaphylaxis Campaign not anaphylactic.

topiarygal · 18/01/2011 21:25

I'm sorry - it's a really tough thing to happen! But, you've now got your epi-pens which we now feel are our magic wands (anything can happen to ds but as long as we have the epipen we'll be fine).

So some thoughts:
When you see your consultant have your list of questions, ask the nurses who do the stats collection (weight and height etc) to put the magic cream (the numbing stuff - never remember the real name!) on while they do this so if they do want to test there and then you don't have to wait 45 mins for the crem to work.

Take stuff to distract and bribe, you may be there for some time and also the tests though totally necessary and empowering for you as you will learn from them, are not necessarily comfortable for your child (Haribo have helped DS sail through!)

Ask for detailed test results, be they skin prick tests or blood tests. Ask for detailed results so you can chart changes over time - this has helped me to ask for specific challenges to foods which I felt could be introduced.

Ask for the letter that says you need the pens for air travel (to get through security)

And no, nuts are different from seeds - so coconut is fine!

Original poster

VJay · 19/01/2011 19:18

Thankyou so much, this has been really helpful

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nottirednow · 20/01/2011 09:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster

VJay · 20/01/2011 16:11

Thanks nottirednow I was wondering if I could have a practice using a pen, I will ask when we get the hospital appt.

I think because we have found out at such a young age that by the time he goes to school etc we will be used to it, but only time will tell

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bicback · 21/01/2011 20:26

hi my dd just turned 8 is allergic to peanut and hazlenut according to when we last had her tested about a year and a half ago although we don;'t give her any nuts as the other ones she supposedly isn't allergic to could be contaminated!! i worry for when she is older and goes out into the big wide world but they may have found a cure that works by then such as a vaccine they are i think working on. you will get used to it and the things you have to do ie when your child goes to a party you should give them their own packed tea. you will get used to checking ingredients but you can find nut free alternatives ie plamil do a good nut free choci spread, kinnerton do nut free (safe) chocolate. i am yet to find a cake that doesn't say may contain nuts but that is ok as you can make you own, i do and i ain't no delia!! best of luck

Original poster

VJay · 22/01/2011 11:50

Thanks bicback

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mrsmoores · 22/01/2011 14:17

My son is allergic to nuts, I only know this through skin prick tests but he has never had them so don't know what his reaction would be.

He is also less allergic to lentils (causes swelling, sickness etc but not anaphylactic shock) as I think they are related to peanuts as they are part of the legume family.

Peas used to make him sick and green beans as I think they may be part of the sme family but he has since grown out of that and can eat them with no problems.

This may not apply to your ds but thought I would share information I found out the hard way!

babybarrister · 22/01/2011 16:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

VJay · 24/01/2011 11:33

There's a lot to consider isn't there . I'm taking note and the list of questions for the paediatrics is growing.

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thunderbird69 · 27/01/2011 21:31

Interesting to hear other people's experiences.
My son was diagnosed at 1 year old and is now 11. He hasn't been tested since he was about 4 or seen anyone about it since, we just get the regular repeat prescriptions for epipens.
I think I may now contact our gp and ask if he can be referred again for a retest. I wouldn't want to get his hopes up, but it would mean so much to him if he didn't have to worry about it - he hates having it.

Angiebops · 28/01/2011 05:56

I have just had my son (11 months) allergy tested and he is allergic to peanuts. I took him for the test as he had a tiny bit of peanut butter and face went blotchy red and itchy. no swelling or rash on body. it subsided quickly though. but test today indicated allergy. i need to see gp next week to ascertain how allergic he is. my question is if his initial reaction was minor does this mean he had a slight allergy or will it become more severe over time?? not that i plan on giving him peanut or and other nuts any time soon! he had not had a problem with any other food, eggs, dairy, pet hair. i am allergy free. my husband gets blotchy with certain types of tequila (not that we will be giving bubs that either!!).

Original poster

VJay · 29/01/2011 18:37

angiebops I was told that the next time ds has a reaction it could be worse.
HTH

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Janex66 · 02/02/2011 10:50

My DS13 was diagnosed as having a nut and sesame seed allergy when he was 2. He also has asthma, hayfever and eczema but these are under control by and large. He sees his allergist once a year and they test him on different substances to see how he reacts to them. We now know that he should not be given legumes and especially not kidney beans or lentils. He also avoids all other tree nuts (just to be safe).

We have been warned that his reactions could grow stronger if he is exposed to his allergens so please angiebops do not assume that your son just has a slight allergy - this may not be the case at all.

bruffin · 02/02/2011 11:03

My DS 15 has been allergic to treenuts and peanuts and seseme seeds and maybe chickpeas since he was 4.

He has grown out of peanut allergy and has recently eaten almonds with no reaction and not allergic to cashews. The worst tree nut is hazlenut.

He is also allergic to animals and hayfever.

We are quite an allergic family as DH is allergic to nuts, animals and hayfever.
I have hayfever as well and had some allergic reaction to persimmons and plantains but they were both underripe at the time.
We both have eczema.

DD is completely allergy free.

My consultant said that allergies don't necessarily get worse and DS's hasn't not has DH's

Janex66 · 05/02/2011 14:02

It is good to read your post bruffin cos it gives me hope that my DS may one day grow out of his peanut allergy. Our consultant says that she has never known a child to grow out of a peanut allergy so this is really encouraging news.

I have heard that there is a clinic in the UK where they can treat people using desensitisation techniques but I'm not sure if this is available to everyone.

ezzie21 · 05/02/2011 14:19

my dd allergic to all nuts-peas/lentils + lentil flour, eggs and fish has been away to uni and survived...i have a huge patch of grey hair tho!

one new factor as she got older was all boyfriends had to give up the food groups as well as she reacted when kissed by a nut eating boyfriend even tho it had been a few hours before

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