Hosp. may do a peanut challenge. Does anyone have experience of this?

[HollyBerrie]

Ds had a second skin prick test last week. The wheal was much smaller though the control was also small. If a 3rd test gives similar results next year they may do a peanut challenge and I was wondering what this is like. We've been told not to gt our hopes up but it's hard not too!

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oooh how exciting!

I wish your ds all the good luck in the world.

My ds had an egg challenge as part of an allergy study.So don't know if it's similar but I'll tell you anyway.

They fed him small bits of a cupcake over an hour,so the bits got gradually bigger until he'd eaten the whole thing.

They simply monitored him throughout.He was nauseous when they had nearly finished but never actually threw up so he passed the challenge and can now eat cooked egg.

Still makes him feel sick so he doesn't bother eating cake etc but at least we know it won't kill him.

I hope your ds passes the challenge..that would be marvellous!

My ds is allergic to tree nuts and I secretly hope he will outgrow it.

Thanks ggirl. I would think it would be similar to that. Were you scared as they did it?

Not really as there were so many people around and they were watching him constantly.

When he started feeling sick I got a bit worried but the staff were really calm and not bothered by it so that reassured me.

I was more worried about ds having a blood test but he was absolutely fine.

Ah yes, now I'm reminded of DD getting an infection after she was born and how amazed I am now that I wasn't more fazed by all the IV antibiotics, talk of lumber punctures etc. I kind of took it all in my stride because we were in hospital. Looking back now, I don't understand why I wasn't frantic!

Fingers crossed for the tree nut allergy!

we were offered a food challenge for a tree nut but didn't take it up. They described it as ggirlsbells says but my child didn't want to take it up because of the risk that they might have to have an epipen if anything went wrong - and it wouldn't have made much difference for one tree nut.

They only do a food challenge if they are pretty confident it will be OK.

we had the egg challenge in hospital, two , one for cooked egg, and then two years later for raw egg.

now have been offered food challenge for a tree nut, brasil, but is clearly not allergic to other tree nuts any more.

we have not gone for this challenge, as it will not change his life in any way at present.

we had a milk challenge this summer. it was much as ggirl describes but a bit slower - first a drop on the forearm, then a drop rubbed on his lips.

They checked blood pressure each time - fine for us as ds found this exciting but the other little boy having the challenge screamed the place down.

One problem we'd not forseen is that ds really didn't want to drink the milk - but as he failed the challenge at 2.5ml maybe it was making his mouth itch, or maybe he just didn't like the taste. At 18mo he was too young to ask. The advantage with an older child is that they'll be able to tell you that something doesn't feel right.

I was sad when he failed (obviously) but it all felt very safe - allergy nurses and doctor close by (and an epipen at the ready, even though he's only ever had a mild reaction to dairy).