Not prescribed an epi pen

[Neepandthedragon]

ds (5) has multiple food allergies and eczema, no asthma. In the past reactions have been mainly hives although his face swelled up once, rang ambulance and piriton sorted it out. He has not had any kind of reaction for a long time although recent tests confirm is still allergic. Ige results especially for nuts are very high which worries me. Has anyone been given an epi pen in this kind of situation?

Yes we have been given epipens for a peanut allergy, confirmed by a skin scratch test. Based on 2 prior reactions to peanuts consisting of hives and itching red wrists and face. No anaphalaxis, but allergy nurse said it was best to have the epipen just in case. I think you should ask GP to prescibe it if possible.

Does your dc have asthma? The dr said that as my ds does not have asthma there is no need for epi pen.

No, DS does not have asthma. Eczema yes, but loads better than it used to be (he's nearly 4). I would get a second opinion; its not worth the risk in my opinion. I'm terrified that we may have to use the epipen, but i'd rather have it than not have it and need it.

Thanks, I agree. Its good to know that others have an epipen in the same circumstances. I am going to push for one at next appointment which is coming up.

There are some guidelines here on who might need one or not

Generally I think the advice is they should normally only be started by an allergy specialist but I'm not sure

If you need one then your allergist would prescribe one, surely? If you've had IgE tests, then surely you've seen an allergist and discussed reactions?

Wouldn't bother with GP but would talk to allergist.

Thanks, yes we do see an allergy consultant and he is the one who said there was no need for an epi pen. I saw the actual results recently because I had to get a copy of his medical records and the results for nuts worried me as they were so high. When he has testing we usually just get a letter after although last time we didn't, I only managed to find out the results through the GP. Its impossible to get hold of anyone at our allergy clinic, the phone number seems to keep changing but apparently he has an appointment soon.

Thanks for the link piscivorus, that is helpful

We don't have an epipen for DS1, he's allergic to loads of stuff inc peanuts, but like your DS no anaphylaxis.

Sorry meant to add. His paed said they only prescribe an epipen if there has already been an anaphylactic reaction.

It must differ from place to place. Strange that we got epipen with no history of anaphylaxis.

We only got one after anaphylaxis, but then that's how we found out about the peanut allergy.

I know they can be reluctant to give them out if not needed.

I have an epipen and I have no history of anaphylaxis, have had swollen eyes and rashes/hives (peanuts). Clinical
Diagnosis only. Surely the risk of an anaphylactic reaction is enough even if you haven't had one before?

I'm not in the UK don't know if that makes any difference but don't understand why they wouldn't give you one if there was a risk.

DDs don't have epi pens as neither have suffered from anaphylaxis reaction before. Allergist (we are Greater London), said he would only recommend an epi pen if they had an anaphylaxis reaction. Allergies confirmed by skin prick, severe hives, itchiness.

But if they were to have an anaphylactic reaction wouldn't they need the epipen then?

This is what worries me as he was tested for nut allergies before ever eating them so have no idea how he would react. I suppose if the allergist thought there was a risk he would have given him one.

Yeah I just dont really understand the thinking behind it. But then I'm not an allergist!

DS2 has a peanut allergy and we have been told to alsoavoid all other nuts although he didn't show a reaction in his bloods to them.
He was 11 months when we saw the allergy specialist. We were told to just treat with piriton until 2,cetirizine after 2 and review at 5.
Since then DS has developed asthma type symptoms, quite severe has needed emergency treatment twice, he is now on steroid and reliever inhalers.
My GP says this won't affect his allergy, but I feel it will.
I was asked extensively about wheezing etc by the allergy specialist because that time DS had needed an inhaler and steroids for bronchiolitis.
DS has started pre-school nursery and I am not in control of all his food any longer. He has reacted just on touch as well as from ingestion, I feel nervous every time he goes to school.

Interesting responses.Does anyone know what results are considered high in testing IgE levels? I wonder what result signifies a need to be issued with an epi pen?

I don't know much about the IgE tests. I do know they can throw false results; the blood test showed my DS was not allergic to peanuts, and the subsequent reaction and then skin test showed that he clearly is.

From what I have read it seems to depend where you live as to whether you get an epipen or not.

I am interested in what Neepandthedragon said as I was told if DS had never been exposed to a type of nut then he wouldn't show an IgE level but that conflicts with what she was told.

seoda, I assume that the results from IgE tests have no relation to whether an epipen is issued or not (or at least in our allergy clinic) because ds's results for peanuts were as high as possible (more than 100) and he was not given an epipen.

I am not sure if we were even meant to see the results because I only got them in a bundle of medical records i requested, so I am only guessing what they mean, although there was a key on them saying what levels were read as a positive/strong positive.

Notso - ds has never eaten nuts, the allergist felt it worth testing and results were positive, so we have obviously been given different advice.

DS allergies to treenuts, peanut and sesame seeds started at 4 and was not prescribed an epipen because he did not have asthma. He grew out of peanuts by 12. He then had a reaction to a macadamia nut when he was 16 which affected his breathing. However he did get over it by himself. He was out with his friends at night and took a biscuit he thought he had eaten before. He then went back to gp and got an epipen.

That is really confusing Neep I was shown the levels and talked through them. DS was too high for a ward challenge but not high enough for epipen given there was no asthma despite coughing on ingestion.