Common Symptoms

[SueP]

Hi

My son Benjamin is 6 months and I am just about to commence him on protein,wheat and dairy which I will do separately and slowly because I am worried about allergies as there is a family history and he already gets rashes on his face (previous post).

I was wondering if anyone who has a child with an allergy can tell me how they discovered it. I know all the textbook stuff about eczema, asthma etc but I would be interested to know what symptoms your child had with what food.

Thanks

Sue

Hi

My ds1 developed a red rash with white bumps or hives around his mouth when eating food he was sensative to ie soft cooked egg, kiwi,apples, mature cheese. In fact any part of his skin that comes into contact with the food stuff he is allergic to would break out in this way. He as since been diagnosed with peanut allergy and we discovered that after he touched some peanut butter and then touched his face.

Because of the family history I would wait (and did with my ds).
I waited until 9 months for meat (but did lentils earlier), 11 months for soy, 12 months for wheat and we were given the all clear for dairy at 13 months. He still is not given tomato, fish, citrus, kiwi, nuts or eggs (or chicken).
He will honestly be fine on veggies and fruit for a while longer - he has no idea what toast is and so won't miss it. Have you tried adding some flax seed oil or probiotics to his food to see if it helps his face rash? I have found both excellent but had to use twice the dose listed on the back for infants and use the adult dose instead.

My ds developed eczema at 6 wks so we delayed weaning till 5 months. Unfortunately his eczema worsened and he was allergy-tested at the hospital. One type of test is a skin-prick test, it is painless and can identify a range of allergens. He also had blood tests which identified further allergens and he was put on a very restricted diet (no dairy, egg, wheat, chicken, soya, fish or nuts). Unfortunately the diet didnt help at all. Aside from the eczema we did notice some foods brought him out in hives - soft eggwhite (cooked is fine) gave him a very severe reaction (hives everywhre and terrible itching) and he was given adrenalin in hospital, cashew nuts (my fault ) also brought him out in hives and resulted in a hospital stay. Other foods we avoid are fish and lentils. Occassionally other foods can cause hives too, yesterday a friend gave him a Ritz cracker which he had never had before and he came out in hives. I accept it is not a predictable condition and am cautious all the time. We carry piriton syrup and epipens everywhere.