peanut allergy - still in limbo

[arizona]

My ds recently had an allergic reaction to peanuts (age 6) with some swelling to face, rash all over body and vomiting. Prior to this we have avoided giving her peanuts and she has always said she doesn't like them so problem hadn't arisen before she pinched 3 peanuts from a bowl and ate them. About a year ago she did have a reaction to a peanut satay sauce that I let her taste. at the time I thought it was the spiciness that was making her complain of a burning sensation in her mouth (it wasn't actually that hot.) She has always eaten lots of other types of nuts (I know peanuts aren't real nuts as such) and she eats a very varied diet. GP referred us to dietician who gave general advice but referred us back to doctor for decision about epipen or not. Ds has school dinners and school are understandably twitchy about what she can and can't have. Very new to this so advice please!

I think you need to push for a referral to an allergy clinic.There is usually a long waitng list to get seen.We waited 6 months for our initial appointment.
In the meantime ensure she has some piriton nearby incase of a reaction.Maybe you should also give her a packed lunch until you know for sure,although I thought most school kitchens would beable to be nut free.

demand a referral for proper testing and see if you can get an epipen while you wait. If you can't phone the consultant's secretary and see how long you'll have to wait for a clinic. Your gp can in fact send a blood sample away for testing for peanut allergy but most don't realise they can do that and they don't know where to send it. The local paediatrician should be able to tell them. It isn't as good as seeing a consultant allergist - who may also test for things like tree nuts, soya, sesame and lupin if asked nicely - but it's a lot quicker and it may get you an epipen quicker. I'm afraid piriton doesn't work fast enough if a reaction is severe, although its the fastest acting antihistamine and better than nothing in an emergency. You are going to need epipens - should be 2 at home and 2 at school.

My child has a nut allergy and you're welcome to contact me for sympathy/ info on clinics/ advice on dealing with schools. I also recommend the anaphylaxis campaign.

You're going to have to be a very pushy mum for a bit but it is very important for your child that you are. I'm afraid the allergist would also tell you its best for your child not to eat other nuts unles you have personally shelled them because tree nuts and peanuts are often stored together.

School kitchens are always twitchy - the anaphylaxis campaign have a website especially for schools. As long as your school isn't selling packets of nuts (some are) it shouldn't be a problem. They often get paranoid about oil (not an issue if refined oil as most cooking oil is) and coconut (not generally a problem). They may also worry about conkers ( best to wash hands before eating) and cereal boxes (avoid ones that have had nuts in) in craft sessions

Thanks tatt, that's useful info to know. I am reluctant to ban all nuts because ds has always eaten lots of different ones. Could she now be allergic to tree nuts as well. She has always been a great eater and i suppose i want that to carry on but obviously not if she's going to react.

probably not if she's eaten them before now and been OK with them, lots of people have peanut alelrgy but not tree allergy. So if you shell them I'd let her go on eating them but I wouldn't risk nuts that you haven't shelled (including things like marzipan and mincemeat)because her reaction sounded quite bad and you haven't got epipens. You can't rely on her vomiting next time and I'd get her to a&e immediately if she starts to react again. Call an ambulance if you've no other way to get there.

My kid tests positive for some tree nuts as well as peanut but we don't think she has clinically significant reactions to all the things she tests positive for. However she won't have the food challenge which is the only real way to be sure. I don't think they'll risk a food challenge with your child, I'd expect the consultant to prescribe epipens based on the clinical history. They'll probably do skin prick tests and blood tests to confirm/ check for other allergies. You do want tests for pine nut, sesame and lupin - unless you're confident she's eaten each at least twice and been OK.

May not be around often, cat me if you need something

probably not if she's eaten them before now and been OK with them, lots of people have peanut alelrgy but not tree allergy. So if you shell them I'd let her go on eating them but I wouldn't risk nuts that you haven't shelled (including things like marzipan and mincemeat)because her reaction sounded quite bad and you haven't got epipens. You can't rely on her vomiting next time and I'd get her to a&e immediately if she starts to react again. Call an ambulance if you've no other way to get there.

My kid tests positive for some tree nuts as well as peanut but we don't think she has clinically significant reactions to all the things she tests positive for. However she won't have the food challenge which is the only real way to be sure. I don't think they'll risk a food challenge with your child, I'd expect the consultant to prescribe epipens based on the clinical history. They'll probably do skin prick tests and blood tests to confirm/ check for other allergies. You do want tests for pine nut, sesame and lupin - unless you're confident she's eaten each at least twice and been OK.

May not be around often, cat me if you need something

probably not if she's eaten them before now and been OK with them, lots of people have peanut alelrgy but not tree allergy. So if you shell them I'd let her go on eating them but I wouldn't risk nuts that you haven't shelled (including things like marzipan and mincemeat)because her reaction sounded quite bad and you haven't got epipens. You can't rely on her vomiting next time and I'd get her to a&e immediately if she starts to react again. Call an ambulance if you've no other way to get there.

My kid tests positive for some tree nuts as well as peanut but we don't think she has clinically significant reactions to all the things she tests positive for. However she won't have the food challenge which is the only real way to be sure. I don't think they'll risk a food challenge with your child, I'd expect the consultant to prescribe epipens based on the clinical history. They'll probably do skin prick tests and blood tests to confirm/ check for other allergies. You do want tests for pine nut, sesame and lupin - unless you're confident she's eaten each at least twice and been OK.

May not be around often, cat me if you need something

apology for double post, a bit of software I use was playing up

Well... DS has only has one nut in his life (I was extre,mely careful due to severe eczema as a baby). He put a peanut in his mouth and now, according to the tests he is allergic to anything with the word "nut" in its name, and almonds, sesame seeds, soya, and even other members of the legume family.
So, I would stop the nuts straight away...