OK help me please. Allergy symptoms or not?

[youarekidding]

Many of you are aware of DS allergies and the lack of knowledge about his allergens.

Also have been pleased to report back recently about how well he's been.

Yesterday he had a blister on the roof of his mouth and I thought nothing of it although it was clearly annoying him! In bed last night he was coughing (unusual) and kept doing it for about 20 minutes. Not a breathless cough but unusual iyswim?

Suddenly he ran into the lounge in a panic saying he didn't know what room of the house he was in and he was confused. I asked what he meant and he kept saying he couldn't work it out and was scared. He was also scratching his leg and back, leg mostly, his voice was croaky (but could have been from where he'd been sleeping) and he kept having this cough. (almost like a spasm).

Now he had no hives and couldn't see any obvious swelling. I checked his leg which had a huge blistery type thing on it.

To be safe I gave him AH which did settle him, stopped him scratching and coughing. He slept really well (I didn't!) and apart from a nosebleed when he woke - he's never had one before - seems fine and the blister has gone.

Now I've been told AH won't harm him if I'm unsure (has raised eosinophil count) but just having the usual flounder about whether I'm reading into this too much or not.

Any thoughts?

Sounds like a horrible experience for both you and your DS. Glad he seems better this morning.

I'm afraid I have absolutely no idea whether or not what happened is related to allergy - am just posting to wish you all the best with it all.

Doesn't sound like an allergy to me. Keep a note of what he ate on that day, in case the episode is repeated. That way you would have something to compare with, but to be honest... it don't think that's an allergy.

Was horrid green There's lots of us who have witnessed our DC's have allergic reactions and know the heart stopping moment when you just wonder what will happen next.

But then again nothing really happened beyond the symptoms I described and after he had AH he improved.

MeMy he hadn't had anything to eat he usually wouldn't - nothing tomato based which can be a trigger. Usually his allergic reactions are pretty mainstream - swelling, hives etc.

I have to admit I may have panicked a bit - I slept with him in my bed with his epi-pen on the bedside table.

Well, I think that sounds like a sensible way to panic, with everything to hand!

I don't know whether this is an allergic reaction or not. What I can tell you is that over the course of time, my DDs symptoms of reaction have changed. She also used to to the classic hives, swelling, vomit bit but now does a frightening confused/sleepy thing (and coughing, wheezy hoarse...)

It does sound like, if he improved after anti-histamines, that it was an allergic reaction...

Hope he (and you!) are feeling better today.

Thanks nelly like the 'sensible way to panic'

Guess all I can do is what we all have to do - wait, see if it happens again and try and see if there's a pattern.

DS has had a few random vomiting sessions the last few months which I've considered are allergy - although never given AH. School have rang and when I've gone to get him he is totally listless - almost unconcious with hoarse voice. He vomits within 10-30 minutes and 20 minutes later is right as rain As in literally eating, drinking and acting normally. I am considering telling school it's allergy as he keeps missing 2 1/2 days off school over an hours illness

That would worry me, I think. "Totally listless" rings alarm bells as anaphylactic episodes can occur like this...Are they giving him anti-histamines when this happens?

FWIW, whenever DD does this, by the time she vomits, she is usually on the way to recovery... (though it has usually involved double-doses of piriton, and re-dosing after the vom, bleughk).

by "occur like this", I mean can be a symptom of anaphylaxis.

I would use an epipen at this point, and have told DDs school the same.

Like you, we are looking for a "pattern" to symptoms, and in a sense are always wondering how things will pan-out during an "episode". But you know what, there don't seen to be any constants! She has had hive reactions on contact to some things, but ingested allergens have produced full-on anaphylaxis without swelling/hives. So we are left wondering...

I am determined, and have impressed on DDs school as such, to err on the side of trigger-happy and administer the pen with drowsiness/confusion and hoarse voice, as these are signs of blood-preassure drop and a closing airway (anaphylaxis).

I don't mean to frighten you, I really don't and have often played the watch and wait game with my wee girl. Our DD's consultant has impressed on us that if you are in any doubt at all, use the pen.

Maybe have a chat with your HCP?

Good luck, and hope your Christmas is stress free!

Thanks nelly We are always in limbo because he was getting hives frequently at one point and with all the negative IgE and RASTs even I began to question allergy. He just seems to have an array of 'symptoms' that appear suddenly and randomly at time - like you said always changing and never the full set!
Luckily DS has never had a 'full' anaphylatic reaction but has had a mild one needing 15ml of puriton.

I get paranoid I'm projecting allergy onto symptoms at times.

AARRGGG it's a minefield.

I hope you enjoy your christmas too - I think I will see the GP in the new year just for a check over and chat.