Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Allergies and intolerances

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Peanut allergy

12 replies

SarahS12345 · 30/06/2014 15:40

My 8 month DS has just been diagnosed with allergies - milk, soya, egg yolk and peanut.

The peanut one is freaking me out a bit. His RAST score was 3.5 and the consultant said that he wouldn't have an anaphylactic reaction with that score.

But my GP said that there isn't a strong correlation between RAST score a type of reaction.

The consultant was reassuring that he wouldn't have a really severe reaction, but I'm worried that might not be correct. Am I being neurotic?

What have others found? I was advised to avoid peanuts (obviously) - should I also avoid all those products which say 'may contain traces of nut' or 'made in a factory which handles nuts'??

OP posts:
Original poster
SarahS12345 · 01/07/2014 19:37

Bump

OP posts:
Youdontneedacriminallawyer · 01/07/2014 19:40

I don't know - but I'd go with the consultant's opinion over the GP. Consultant is the expert/specialist.

Original poster
SarahS12345 · 01/07/2014 20:22

That's my instinct too. Although the consultant wasn't an allergy specialist - we haven't seen an allergy specialist at all.

OP posts:
ShineSmile · 01/07/2014 20:57

In that case, ask for a referral to an allergy pediatrician. Having said that, the 1st one I saw locally was rubbish. We then asked for a referral to the Evelina/St Thomas's and it was much better.

Have you had a skin prick test for peanuts?

My DD had a Rast test for milk, and it showed up as no allergy, however skin prick test picked it up and of course she did have it.

Youdontneedacriminallawyer · 01/07/2014 21:00

What was he a consultant in then?

Monkeyandanimal · 01/07/2014 21:02

My son's blood test showed no peanut allergy, but the skin prick showed a definite reaction and we have been prescribed epipens, so i would definitely push for a referral to an allergy specialist.

Original poster
SarahS12345 · 01/07/2014 21:15

We were referred to the paediatrician as the hvs were concerned about him dropping off his line.
So we saw a general paediatrician who said his weight was fine but ordered a blood test because he has eczema, creases under his eyes, his sister has for allergies and he got a rash when I tested a tiny formula.
Rast test showed positive for milk, egg, soya and peanut. Peanut was the highest at 3.5.
She called me with the result and was very sure that he wouldn't have a severe reaction. After the call I felt we needed more advice, especially given the possibility an anapylactic reaction. She agreed to refer us to the allergy clinic when he's older....
I doubt/hope that he isn't severely allergic. Apart from anything else my dd has peanut butter loads and we haven't been super careful about it til now. So I'm sure he has had some exposure and hasn't reacted.
My dh and mum think I'm overreacting. Feeling quite alone and unsupported.... Sad Sad

OP posts:
Original poster
SarahS12345 · 01/07/2014 21:34

And no, no skin prick test just bloods.
And I don't know what they tested for. Don't know about tree nuts or sesame for example.

OP posts:
Original poster
SarahS12345 · 12/07/2014 10:05

One more question - I've read that rast tests can produce false positives. Does anyone have experience of a rast test showing a reaction but of their child not actually being allergic? (clutching at straws here)...

OP posts:
ShineSmile · 12/07/2014 14:56

Sarah, sorry I wrote a reply to you a week back I think, but didn't manage to post it, I think battery went dead.

It seems quite common to feel lack of support from spouse and family. So don't worry, we've got MN Smile DH only took allergies seriously when DD reacted very very badly once, but even then, just yesterday, he gave her some chicken from the local take away, and now she's had a reaction to it! Hmm (It probably had some butter on it).

I would say just leave it out of diet for now. He is not going to miss out much if he doesn't eat it, and it's not in many things. So it's not too difficult to cut out.

What you need is a skin prick test to peanuts and see how that turns out. Ask your pediatrician for one, if they are not willing to do it, you could try the test at home. The procedure is described in professor branstoff's book 'the complete guide to food allergies and intolerances' and I have pics of the relevant pages, I can post them for you if you like.

Personally I would wait for a skin prick test but its up to you.

pashmina696 · 12/07/2014 21:20

If it helps my son had a positive skin prick test for peanut, less than 5mm and a positive rast test for peanut (about 6), yet passed his peanut challenge easily - he has to eat peanut 3 times a week now he is exposed to stop him developing an allergy to peanuts. The standard is to have both tests and you need a paediatric allergists to contrast and explain the results.

Original poster
SarahS12345 · 28/07/2014 15:51

Thanks for all your replies. We had a skin price test which confirmed reaction to peanuts (amongst others). We are now waiting to see an allergy specialist so hoping to get some answers.
Still freaked though as we don't know what sort of reaction he might have and we have no epipen or anything.
Allergies are just misery. Feel like it's all I think about but there's nothing I can do. Sad Sad

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page