Nut allergy, piriton, plane and France

[belindarose]

Any tips for our holiday with peanut allergic toddler. Hasn't had a reaction since her diagnosis. We carry piriton but haven't had to use it yet. Can we take it in hand luggage? Any advice for pitfalls in France?

Get a letter from the GP saying you need to carry it at all times as it is probably in a bottle with more than 100ml in it.

I have to do this every time we fly for this and epi-pens ( needles). They always inspect the bag but we have never had a problem.

Is it just peanuts or other nuts too? have you been advised to avoid all nuts?

Can you say in French "my son/daughter is allergic to peanuts"? If so mention it every time you are in a restaurant and see what they tell you to avoid. - Remember to ask what kind of oil they fry in. some places use groundnut oil in the UK - Don't know about France

Yes to hand luggage, just remember to get it decanted into a 100ml bottle (maximum you're allowed to take in hand luggage but you can obviously take more in your main luggage if you need to) and ask your local pharmacy to do it so that you get an official looking label on it. We used translation cards that I got from the anaphlaxis website, took epipens and piriton with Dr's letter no problem at all. Tell them when you go through check in that your child has a severe nut allery and again on the plane and they won't serve nuts on board. Happy hols.

Boots own brand piriton comes in a smaller plastic bottle which I use for travelling. I think it is 100ml and if it is on presectiption it will have the label on it so ok for plane?

DS also has a nut allergy and requires antihistamine. Luckily his is only brazil nuts which is less stressful than peanuts.

Does anyone know if it is possible to get piriton in sachets like you can for calpol? Most of the time we get generic anithistamine in HUGE glass bottles - I didn;t think that I should decant as thought should always keep medicine in the container it came in - so it is ok to do this? Would far prefer to have sachets to save carrying the bottle everywhere though.

YOu can buy stickers with a nut and a cross to show nut allergy which would be easier than trying to explain.

Have a lovely holiday.

I'm pretty sure you can't get Piriton in sachets, I remember signing a petition requesting it on this forum last year...

Piriton isn't sold in France - I live there now - and they seem to only sell kid-friendly antihistamine syrup with a prescription, ours is called Aerius, so I would advise you take an extra bottle of the Boots type like suggested above.

I suggest to take a card saying "notre fille est allergique aux cacahuetes. Nous devons etre absolument certains qu'il n'y a aucune trace de cacahuete dans ce qu'elle mange." ie "our daughter is allergic to peanuts. We have to be absolutely sure there aren't any peanut traces in what she eats"... should be able to help.

Ask if you need any extra translation :)

and have a lovely holiday! the heat is back :)

we took translation cards with us when we went to France. the only problem we had was that often places said that chips were cooked in groundnut oil... cue 2 very dissapointed kids! meant we ate out alot less than we normally would when camping. Still had a great holiday though.

We went on the ferry so no advice re flying I am afraid.

have a good time