Question about mild food allergies - to expose or not to expose?

[NortyNancy]

So Ive read a lot of studies (published studies) regarding food allergies. As with all these things there's a divide. Ive read (and have personal proof of (but not with my child)) that exposure can build up resistance to allergens. Ive also read that complete avoidence allows the immune system grow and 'heal' its faults as it were.

So my DC's anaphylactic allergies are obviously met with complete avoidence. But as we go along we're adding to the list mild food allergies so far white rice, green lentils and something tonight (not sure what it was out if white fish, peas and mash a hes had countless times before). Which result in hives and rash around his mouth that disappear as fast as they appear. From start to finish id say 10 minutes- 15 minutes maximum.

So, to expose or not to expose WDYD?

Hi Norty

This is a really good question so am just marking my spot as I'm interested in this.
my DD is allergic to a long list of foods and I have gone down the complete avoidance route in the hope that it would give my DD a chance to 'heal' as you say. To be honest I can't say whether this has worked or not. But it has kept her out of harms way so that was the other reason I suppose I've have been so strict with things.
DD had her first reaction to wheat at 6.5 months in a baby rusk. After then during weaning we cam across other foods. She's now 4yrs 8months and recently ginger was added to the list. No foods have so far come off the list. I sometimes wonder if it's because I have kept a very close eye on things.
DD is allergic to wheat, eggs, treenuts, legumes incl peanuts and soya, sesame, rapeseed, oats and I'm sure there are others like celery too.

In terms of your DC reacting to the meal, it could be the peas, esp as their is already an allergy to lentils as both are part of the legumes family. Also, in the early days, I learnt that sometimes DD would be fine with a food the first time, say chick peas, but would react the next time she ate the same food. With chickpeas if was literally one day she was ok and the next day she reacted. We also had problems with rice dishes, but that turned out to be the pan I was using to cook the rice. She would be ok with it one day and not the next time and I noticed it was after I'd cooked say wheat based pasta in the same pan. So we now have separate pots, pans, cutlery etc etc for her.

One question? How do you know the allergies are mild? We have always been told to steer well clear of things as the reaction next time could be much worse. I'm a real worrier so always play it safe. But I do wonder sometimes which is qhy your post is really interesting to me.

not qhy, I meant why

Thanks for starting this thread! I'm also very interested, as my DS's history is a bit like mumat39's DD's, except he's a couple of years younger. He has reacted severely (or had very positive skin prickto wheat, milk, lentils, sesame and kidney beans, but not so severely to peas, chickpeas and baked beans. We're avoiding all legumes at present to avoid confusion, but I'm worried that this will mean he will react more severely when we reintroduce them. TBH I'm not sure even the specialists know the answer to this one!

Thanks for the input. Theres a lot of answers that are left open. Im afraid this might be one of them.

Just found out my baby is allergic to raw potato. I can only hope to the God he doesnt develop an allergy to cooked potato.

all areas where exposure is mentioned as prevention are based on they hygeine theory, or rather the opposite.

but once our kids have the allergies, they are allergic people, its too late.

the problem with ige reactions is that (unless a qualified immunoloigst tells you, that your allergies are mild and always will be,) every reaction is different.
you cant form a judgement on 'mild' allergy just because you have, so far, seen only mild reactions to food.

Just to say if allergic to potato, watch out for tomatoes and aubergines as I believe they are same family.

For the OP, white fish could be the culprit. Even if not an actual allergy to the protein, it can have high histamine levels which can cause a reaction.

I'm no expert but these are things I've read since having an allergic child. I believe what Eragon says is true too.

There must be something in the exposure thing though, even for an allergic child - because that must be the theory behind the desensitisation trials / treatments - but obviously we can't be repeating that at home as it is too dangerous. Also consultant told me that if say, child can tolerate cooked egg, it is good for them to have it regularly as they are then likely to eventually grow out of raw egg allergy. Another poster earlier wrote that they've been advised to continue to give hazelnuts to avoid developing a new allergy.

In the end I try to give my son as much variety as possible within his restrictions, but if I know somehting is going to give hives etc I wouldn't do it - imagine what it is doing to his insides if it does that on the outside. Also I've seen how quickly hives can develop into airway swelling. So avoidance is the only thing to do really.

It's a very good question though, hopefully some medical breakthroughs will occur soon to help us all understand.