Yes, I always gave piriton and it sorted things our very quickly.
It sounds like you have not been given much support. We are lucky enough to live round the corner from Addenbrookes hospital which is a real centre for excellence in treating allergies in children. We were given lots of advice, some of which I've summarised above I think. I've just had a look through the file cabinet and found the advice sheet we were given when DD was diagnosed.
Brief summary of advice below:
Which nuts to avoid. They recommend avoiding all nuts (peanuts and treenuts) because of the risk of cross contamination. Coconut and nutmeg is fine. They strongly suggest peanuts are banned from the house and everyone in the house avoids them.
Check ingredients carefully. Manufacturers change recipes so check even familiar products.
Difficulties arise when food is not labelled e.g. delis, bakeries, eating out, visiting friends. Essential to explain how serious the allergy is. Studies show take-away food such as Chinese, Indian and Thai are highly likely to be contaminated with nuts. Avoid.
May contain traces labelling. This means the product doesn't contain nuts but the manufactuere may make another product in the same area which does contain nuts. Most will take care to prevent contaminatuion and the risk is therefore very small. You need to decide how great you believe the risk is to your child. Some foods are more likely to be contaminated because of manufacturing processes e.g. chocolates, cakes, biscuits and cereals and the risk is likely to be higher in there foods.
Nut oils. Peanut oils (known as groundnut or arachis oil) can be either refined in which ase it contains no protein and cannot cause and allergy, or cold-pressed / gourmet oil, which contains peanut allergen and therefore can cause an allergic reaction. Labelling does not distinguish between whether an oil is refined or non-refined. Therefore avoid.
Commonest causes of reactions. In kids it is eating snacks e.g. biscuits, cakes, chocolates and crunch bars. Young kids are particularly at risk when out of their parent's supervision e.g. at parties, clubs or with grandparents. Kids should avoid swopping good and when "treat" food is brought into class from outside (e.g. to celebrate a kids birthday), and alternative should be provided, unless labelling indicates the treat is OK.
Examples of food in which nuts can be hidden.
Indian, Chinese, Thai meals often have nuts ground into a paste. High risk of contaimination during cooking.
Chocolates.
Cake and biscuits
Food bought in bakery or deli (more risk of contamination, no ingedient label and foods are unwrapped)
Popcorn - sometimes the coating contains peanut oil.
Some ice cream toppings contain chopped nuts
Pre-prepared food.
Foods which obviously contain nuts
Breakfast cereals e.g. crunchy nut cornflakes, museli
Cereal bars
Added nuts on cake and biscuit toppings
Other risk
Certain cosmetic items e.g. lipsticks, lip blams, baths oils
Avoid handelling nuts e.g. in bird feeders, guinea-pig food or used in art work
Further info.
Supermarkets often provide lists of nut-free foods on request but this is often out of date as recipes change.
Anaphylaxid Campaign is quite good.
Allergy UK is also good
Hope this is helpful. It really be OK. I promise.