Allergic to Dilute Juice?

[Jackkkieee89]

One regret I have as a parent is introducing my children to anything other than water. My children crave nothing but dilute juice and squash. My oldest son is now twelve and I think it is very possible that he may have an allergy to dilute juice

When he consumes dilute juice and it is very watered down he has no reaction. But in instances in which the juice is stronger he has what seems to be an allergic reaction. He begins to cough and he begins to itch his throat. This then spreads to him having an incredibly itchy back and chest and somehow his ears end up becoming itchy too. His coughing seems unbearable and by the end of these fits he’s covered in scratch marks. These can last from just a few hours to the point where he could be up coughing and itching half the night.

I no longer allow him to have dilute juice and have settled for flavoured water instead as he ‘hates’ water. He has the same reaction regardless of flavour. Orange or Blackcurrant. Does anyone else have an allergy to juice or is there something within them which could explain it.

If he's coughing with an itchy throat he needs to go to A&E - if my daughter with a peanut allergy had those symptoms I'd be using her epipen and calling an ambulance.

If he's currently well I'd hold off on the juice and ask your GP for a referral to an allergy clinic.

Do you mean squash/cordial rather than juice? Just wondering if it could be some kind of additive - artificial sweeteners or colouring - he's reacting to?

I have an intolerance to citric acid which is in lots of things including diluting juice, it brings me out in hives all over my body and were incredibly itchy. It was much worse in childhood but I still have to be careful now. Never had a cough or my throat affected though.

There is an ingredient in some dilute juices that sets off my asthma. I don't know what it is so I just avoid certain brands but it triggers wheezing and inflammation.

Your mama instincts are spot on. Can you change him to fresh juice watered down? I guarantee its not the juice he is addicted to - its the sweetness.

Having had an allergic reaction myself to a super concentrated squash that put me in hospital for 2 days, I can tell you it is definitely possible.
If he has any reaction like this again give him an antihistamine if you have some and take him straight to a&e.
It is quite worrying that you haven't done this previously if it has affected his breathing, made him cough, and made his throat itch.

I get this with certain types of orange diluting juice. Makes me wheeze and if I laugh or cough it sort of gets deeper in my chest, and itchy on chest, throat and back. Never amounts to anything more than that, but always made me wonder.