So once your child has had a reaction to nuts, do you have to totally stay clear of them?

[puff]

Ds1 (5) had a banana and walnut muffin yesterday - within a minute of it he had a purple spreading rash on his neck, swollen lips and was clutching at his throat saying it was really sore. So....I just went straight to A&E as it was evening and no dr's surgeries open.

Anyway, thankfully, the reaction calmed down - I was told it was a moderate to mild reaction and he should avoid nuts. He is being referred to an allergy clinic.

After the age of 2 we haven't "actively" avoided nuts and I'm just wondering if he will grow out of this sensitivity and might it just be walnuts? I'm sure he's had stuff with peanuts in before.

until he is allergy tested i would avoid nuts. the next reaction could be severe.

Nut allergies, as any other allergies, seem to have a life of their own. Sometimes the allergy subsides, sometimes it becomes more severe. He may be allergic just to walnuts or may end up getting allergic to the whole family. So, unless you have an "all clear" via testing, please avoid them and carry piriton with you at all times.

I wondered about that misdee - we will avoid them of course and I'd heard that the reactions can become worse - I wonder why - do you know?

I'll make sure I have some piriton in my bag - thanks Chandra.

Puff, food allergies are not much else than an exagerated "defensive" response to an otherwise inocuos ingredient. In case of nut allergy, the more exposed you are to nuts, the more likely that you develop more antibodies which in turn could make the reaction more severe. The idea of restriction diets is to lower exposure in the hope of lowering the likelyhood of more severe reactions developing.

When you go to the allergy clinic be prepared, they may take it very seriously and you may be shocked. Holding his throat sounds ominous. My dd(3) had a very mild reaction to peanuts once or twice then really bad one- her whole face swelled up, her eyes closed, rash, vomit, wet, became sleepy, had to take her to hospital. Now we are being seen by allergy clinic, we have to carry an epipen everywhere and become paranoid about nuts.

Puff, I would also warn the school (assuming he is at school). A boy in my dd's class had a similar reaction at this age (and the mother is sure he had had nuts previously) and the school keep a sheet on display in the office with his photo on and details of what to do if he has a reaction. I would get a couple of epipens from your gp and give one to the school and carry one yourself as well as the Piriton. You should also make sure his teacher knows that he should not be given any sweets, etc (for example those brought in by other children on their birthdays). You could leave a supply of safe treats with her so he does not feel left out if everyone else is having something. You need to ensure the dinner ladies are aware (if he has school dinners they are probably safe but worth checking) and that he is not allowed to try food other children have brought in their packed lunches.

I know an adult who has a nut allergy who thought they might have outgrown it and took a chance and nearly died.

My sister (a Nursery manager) always recommends parents of a child a t school get three pieces of card and print Warning: nuts can kill me on, then attach a good pic in school uniform and put one in the dining room / cafeteria, one in the staff room and one in the classroom. For substitute teachers / students etc.

depends how much you like hospitals. If he's had peanuts only once before he might react very badly a second time, they don't react the first time because they don't have antibodies then. He may have had minor reactions before and you haven't noticed or he may be be developing new allergies. Or you may be right and he's fine with other nuts. Trouble is if you're wrong he could be dead before you get to a&e.

Hospitals only seem to class reactions as "severe" if they have to administer epipens more than once. Swollen, sore throat = potentially fatal so you did the right thing going straight to a&e. Keep piriton handy and when you're away from home call an ambulance if you don't know where the hospital is.

we've got our first round of skin tests next week (ds2 is 14 months) - similar reaction to yours. We have made him a badge saying "I can't eat nuts" which he wears for parties or wherever he'll be around people he doesn't know. However, he won't actually put anything in his mouth if he is allergic to it - he'll put fox poo in his mouth, but not peanut butter - he just wipes it all over and gets all swollen and with a big rash. We avoid all nuts and raw egg.