My dd just had a pretty severe allergic reaction to raw tomato. What should I do next?

[neolara]

I just fed my 19month old dd raw tomatoes for lunch. The hand that she was eating with turned red, swelled up quite significantly and developed white lumps all over it. It all happened within a few minutes and was really quite shocking. I gave her piriton immediately and now she is fine, thankfully.

I'm going to speak to the doctor in a little while. Is there anything in particular I should be asking for? Referral to specialist?

Does anyone know what typically happens with tomato allergies. Is is a piriton or an epipen response? Does it get worse with exposure? Do kids grow out of it? I googled a little bit but am not sure how reliable some of the sites are.

Many thanks

I'm allergic to raw tomatoes on my skin, can eat them just fine, piriton response if necessary but to be honest I just avoid them, no need to touch them really!

I've had mine all my life, stayed the same level of reaction and I always forget I am allergic to it to be honest.

Ask for a referrel to a specialist - why not? Better to discuss and test for possible allergies with someone who knows the business, if GP will refer.

I have a friend who has a milder reaction to all nightshade veggies (tomatoes, aubergines, bell peppersf etc) so maybe be aware of that possibility?

yes I can't eat any deadly nightshade veg. (including potatoes BTW) i follow my blood type and they are an avoid for A types. They can also give eczema and or arthritis symptoms.

My DD has had reactions to tomatoes anything with chilli or paprika in it and a few other red things. Her reaction was however not as bad as your dc it would seem. My dd just selled and went red round her moth and fingers she had used to eat with :-) She is now 2 and we have been testing and her reactions now are a lot less noticeble. So she seems to be growing out of it. I would try and get a referral if I were you though as reaction was so fast and noticeble.

Watching this thread with interest, as my 18m old had a similar thing happen yesterday.

Gave him some raw tomato, then his face very rapidly went bright red and blotchy. I had turned away to the hob, cooked for a few minutes then turned back and he was like that!

I wiped his face and it gradually faded over the next hour or so. Thankfully no hives.

my friends DH who is a chef has this allergy. He has always had it and apparently it is a contact allergy. I would advise speaking to GP though as LO is only 1 yo.

I'd ask to be referred to a specialist. When I was tested for a possible latex allergy (which was positive) they asked me how I was with tomatoes, potatoes, kiwi fruit and bananas, apparently they're all in the same family.

Bananas I can't even stand the smell of, so I avoid at all costs. Tomatoes, potatoes and kiwi all make my hands very sore and itchy when I handle them. I tend to wear (vinyl) gloves to peel potatoes. I daren't eat kiwi fruit because if it has that effect on my hands I don't want it near my mouth. I have allergies to certain fruits anyway.
Potatoes I'm fine with once they're cooked and tomatoes are very good for me to eat if I'm feeling a little bunged up :o

I never had problems with foods when I was younger, they came on in my mid 20's and I'm aware enough to be careful if trying new things. With a small child I'd err on the side of caution and get medical advice.

If its any reassurance, my own DD used to react in a similar way with fresh tomatoes, used to come up in a nettle like rash (urticaria) often with swelling

She'd grown out of it by the time she started School :)

Thank you everyone for all your responses. They were very helpful. It's good to know that in some cases kids grow out of it and when this doesn't happen, the situation can be managed without too much inconvenience.

I spoke to my GP who is going to refer my dd to a specialist. He's going to consult with his colleagues about whether a dermatologist or an allergist would be the most appropriate, I guess because as some of you have suggested, it may just be a contact allergy instead of a "send all of her body into melt down" allergy.