Could my DD be allergic to trees?

[Jojay]

This sounds a bit bonkers but we've just returned early from camping in the woods as DD was reacting pretty badly - facial swelling that was red hot to touch, swollen eyes and a major eczema flare up that has left her bottom looking horrendous, like a burn :(

She's allergic to dairy, egg, soya, peanuts,tree and grass pollen that we know of. I thought it was too late in the year for pollen though?

We were camped under trees in a wooded campsite, and within 12 hrs of being home, the facial swelling has gone down completely. We're left with the eczema, but has anyone any idea what nay gave triggered this reaction?

Also, any remedies for eczema -y nappy rash all over her cheeks gratefully received. Thanks .

It won't be trees in general...what trees were they? I react like that to pines.

The campsite had more deciduous trees, silver birch, oak etc but we did visit a place full of pine trees the day before she got really bad. Could that be it?

How long do your reactions last for? Do you react ag this tone of year? Sorry for all the questions!

• react at this time of year, that should say.

DS2 reacts to birch. It is a problem because next door have one which hangs over our garden. Sometimes when he plays in the garden he has blisters under his eyes, or his face swells up.

According to our consultant, birch pollen allergy can also mean cross-reactions with other allergens, including guar gum and certain fruits. The guar gum cross reaction explained a lot for us in terms of unexplained reactions.

I should also add, I react to horse chestnut and tree pollen has gone loopy this year with the weird weather. I've been getting symptoms much later than normal (usually stopped by start June).

Could it be mould spores? My dd is allergic to silver birch and plane trees and mould which also includes funghi spores. If you slept in a tent that has been packed up for the year in the garage or shed it is possibly damp and contains mould spores. We went to Center Parcs last week and my dd was very bunged up and itchy, no rash thankfully.

Where in the country are you? We visited west London at the start of the summer hols and our friends warned us about a caterpillar on oak trees that people are particularly allergic too (their hairs I think?). Friends also said oaks in Sussex had been affected.

Oh and they recommended we use piroton in the event of a reaction!

Yes. I am allergic to "damp trees". Its the mould spores. Mine set off hayfever type symptoms and a horrible cough so not the same as your dd. I keep.away from woods especially if it is/has just been training which means the tree mould spores are "washed" out of the trees and into the air.

• raining

I have no answer but also have an eczemateous child who seems to flare up when we've been in the woods/fields - all that 'nature' stuff that you feel is good for your child!

Was waiting til hayfever season calmed down and call the allergy dept to get some more exact testing done.

DH and I seriously thinking of planning a move to the seaside as every summer DS suffers so badly. I think now he's older they should be able to pin it down.

Fed up that my mum is only one who babysit but they live out in a very woody/tree-y area and she takes him out for a walk. Then, we spend the next three days with piriton and topical steroids trying to sort his skin back out.

Would suggest a trip to the GP for a referral to allergist?

Thanks everyone. We see an allergist anyway for food allergies etc, so I'll mention it at our next appt.

We were in the New Forest.

We arrived home at 6pm with a swollen faced DD and by the time she woke the next morning the swelling had all gone, just the eczema to clear now. I was giving Piriton while we were there and it took the edge off things slightly, but the change on arriving home was dramatic.

Mould spores sounds possible as she did get a lot worse once it rained.

Thanks again, it's good to hear other people's experiences :)

Is your DD bothered by newly mown grass, my DSIS is.

When we were camping they were mowing all the time as pitches became clear.

Could well be birch. Ds has an allergy to some pollens (including birch we think), which is connected to his banana allergy so we believe. We have a birch tree in our garden, but even if we cut it down, several neighbours also have birch trees, so wouldn't help much. Last week we were on holiday in St Ives, Cornwall and the allergy disappeared but now we are home it's back. It will probably subside in Sept/Oct, only to reappear in the spring.

TSC - how does your ds react? She wasn't snotty or sneezing, but had this big swollen ace and horrendous eczema instead.

And no, mown grass not an issue, campsite was in woods so no grass to speak of, and she's fine when we mow at home.

I have a contact allergy to leylandi. If I brush against it my arm/leg swells up impressively. So its possible.