Trying to discover what allergies she has

[YorkshireMum28]

DD is 7 months old

Since weaning we’ve learnt she’s allergic to cows milk (had mixed this with weetabix) and egg

My other DD, now 3, was allergic to only egg and grew out of it, she has no other known allergies.

DD (the 7m/o) has come out in hives again this morning

Three potential causes:

1. She had Greek yoghurt and raspberries for breakfast, she’s had Greek yoghurt almost daily and been fine and had raspberries a few times now, no reaction to both before but could it still be this? This was around 40 minutes before the hives came out.
2. The dog managed to lick her face 10 minutes before the hives came out. I didn’t intervene in time, DH is allergic to our dog and takes allergy tablets daily.
3. I was making pancakes for my older DD and didn’t wash my hands before holding baby and DD3 was cuddling and kissing baby after eating pancakes. This was around 10-15 minutes before hive reaction.

Is there somewhere I can take her to get her allergy tested quickly? I have a feeling the NHS waiting list will be long if this is something they could offer. Really worried it’s the dog that’s caused the reaction since DH and my SIL are allergic, it could run in the family. I don’t want to keep exposing her at home in case the reaction isn’t as mild the next time.

Any advice?

Hi OP, I’m sorry to hear you’re having to deal with this. My DS has many allergies and I understand the stress it creates.

The most likely culprits are 1 & 3. There is cows milk in Greek yogurt so, if she’s allergic to milk then she shouldn’t be having any dairy produce. Unless it’s lactose that’s the issue, rather than the milk protein?

First step is to remove all dairy from her diet. It's quite common to be ok with a food occasionally but the proteins build and on repeated exposures you see a reaction.
The advice is to remove dairy completely for 6 months then depending on the presentation of the allergy look at introducing the milk ladder. This is for those with delayed allergies (gastric symptoms) and those with immediate allergies who monitoring (usually by blood tests or skin pricks or hospital challenges) shows they have started to out grow their allergy.
The hives would be a sign of an immediate allergies, these reactions can get worse with repeated exposures so it's really important to be removing it completely.
Do you have dietician support? Your HV can do the referral as well as GPs if not.

How is she now @YorkshireMum28?

She’s fine, thank you!

It was number 3. the not washing of the hands, I made the same mistake a few days later making an omelette for my eldest.

She’s fine with Greek yoghurt. She just can’t have egg or cows milk! Though I always add a glug of cows milk to my mash and she hasn’t reacted to that.

I'm sorry but if she has an allergy to cows milk then she would not be able to eat Greek yoghurt. But from your account it would seem the dog licking her face has caused hives. This happens to my dd if a dog licks her.

My money is on the milk. (So the yoghurt and the pancakes).

Gold standard testing is elimination trials.

But she reacts to porridge with cows milk, but not porridge with oat milk/breast milk. She has Greek yoghurt often and no reactions.

This is a mind boggling read. She is absolutely not allergic to cows milk if she can handle Greek yogurt which is basically 100 per cent cows milk. Who has diagnoses all these allergies? Please seek expert advice

Have a read about the milk ladder.

it sounds like they can tolerate moderate amounts of moderately denatured milk.

There are a lot of people with uninformed opinions commenting on this thread @YorkshireMum28. Try to get some medical advice.

No one has diagnosed anything, I haven’t even taken her to a GP. I don’t understand what is so mind boggling?! She reacted to cows milk when given in porridge therefore I won’t be trying that again until she’s 1 and I’ll be using the milk ladder when reintroducing. She hasn’t reacted to Greek yoghurt! I’m not making it up that’s just my experience

Sorry OP, as someone with a cows milk allergy, you can’t eat yogurt, butter, cheese etc. It’s everything that cows milk is made of. If she’s fine with yogurt she doesn’t have a cows milk allergy.

Also, if you genuinely suspect an allergy to anything, go to the doctors, don’t try to develop a ladder based care plan without proper guidance.

This just isn’t true. Try reading about the milk ladder, it may help you.

As everyone has said your messages are confused, please if you suspect a milk allergy then get professional advice. Yoghurt is almost at the top of the milk ladder so the comments regarding that should be viewed with caution.

Absolutely agree @Garlicchillilime and sadly all this misinformation can cause us with cows milk allergies to be placed in dangerous situations

You need to discuss with your HV or GP as soon as possible for an allergy assessment and completely cut out any suspect foods. Cutting cow’s milk would mean ALL dairy (including ‘lactose free’).

If you do suspect your baby has an immediate (IGE) allergy (hives within 40 mins) to cows milk you are seriously putting her at risk every time you give it to her. A reaction can be mild several times but progress to anaphylaxis at any point.

Agree though with others that CMPA seems unlikely if you are giving daily Greek yoghurt with no reaction. Are you sure it’s not a reaction to wheat? Weetabix? Oats can sometimes have cross contamination with wheat, which could explain the inconsistent reaction with the oats.

Best of luck! I know it can be a stressful time figuring out allergies

Any update on this?