Peanut allergy

[HereComeTheGirls]

My 19mo DD had an allergic reaction to a tiny bit of peanut butter this morning.

She has had eczema which is pretty much cleared up now, and I ate peanut butter while breastfeeding and she has had nuts so I (stupidly) thought she would be fine to taste it.

Fortunately she only had a skin reaction, I saw the hives coming and gave her some Piriton and took her to GP. They said it's a mild reaction and not to panic unduly, but of course we are concerned as its one of the worst allergies to have.

Does anyone have any experience of this?

TIA

Her breathing and eyes etc were not affected, fortunately!

I would insist on seeing an allergist. The periton could have stopped it from becomming worse maybe. Our dd has a peanut allergy but she developed large hives all over and a swollen throat although they said it was not life threatening at that point in hospital but she still had adrenoline injections and had to stay in hospital overnight. It came up high on the skin prick tests when we had it confirmed and she goes nowhere without her emergency kit now. Make sure she is check out properly

Thanks, that was my feeling too, and I was surprised that the GP didn't think it was serious. Will go for second opinion.

Insist on seeing an allergy specialist. They will be able to advise you and can keep 'an eye' on the allergy, as it were so you will be able to have some idea if she is growing out of it (or into it ) without you having to experiment at home.

My ds1 was diagnosed w. peanut allergy at 10mo.during a series of allergy tests. He has never had a peanut, or therefore a reaction to one, but we are still under the allergy pediatrician at the hospital, so you don't have to have had a serious allergic reaction to qualify.

you can insist, any peanut allergy should be passed on to an immunoligist.

and also, its worth bearing in mind that allergies dont often come in ones..............

Williamsmummy is right - peanut allergy often also means allergy to other nuts. My son is allergic to peanuts and all other nuts, so I would certainly seek more advice.

You really do need the test.

My step DD is (well, was!) anaphylactic to all nuts, and was 'off the scale' for peanuts according to the specialist. She was diagnosed at 2 years after peanut butter. She has had to carry epipens ever since.

HOWEVER, and this is the big however, we are in the middle of a Nut Desensitization programme up at Addenbrooks Hospital in Cambridge and it is amazing. The doctors are fantastic and the study has already been run in the US where the specialist in charge has had previously anaphylactic children eating whole peanuts!

SO, step DD been on the course for 2 months. Already she is no longer allergic to tree nuts. It is truly life changing. We are in the middle of the peanut course and have to give her peanut flour mixed with yogurt every day. We will probably be going to Cambridge twice a month until Christmas but it is so worth it. Even if she can have birthday cakes etc. which say 'made in a factory which handles nuts' and not worry then this whole study has totally changed her life.

That is a massive thing for a little girl who has spent her whole life feeling 'different'.

Anyhow, sorry, got carried away. Get tested but please be heartend that there is so much work now being done that one day kids with nut allergies may be able to have a cure.

In the meantime, we take what we can. Whilst DD may never be able to eat a Snickers Bar she can get on with life not worrying about food.

1 in 5 infants diagnosed with eczema or egg allergy will develop peanut allergy by their second birthday.

( sorry to be so uncheery.........)

by the same account 9 out of 10 children born with an egg intol grow out of it by the time they are 2.

My ds had a very similar reaction to peanut butter as your dd, HCTG, at almost exactly the same age.

We took him for blood tests and he was off the scale for peanut sensitivity but clear for all other nuts that they tested for. We were told to avoid ALL nuts and nut products and ds has to have an epipen with him at all times.

It really freaked me out at the time, but now it's just part of life (ds is 9 now). We've had a couple of scares & now know that he's also allergic to pistachios - but it's amazing how you can learn to cope with something that seems so scary at first. We told ds about his allergy as soon as he was old enough to understand (without scaring him!) - all his friends know and it's just a fact of life now.

Get the tests done if you can - taking your child for a blood test is not much fun(!), but it is SO much better to have the information and take it from there.

x

Just realised my post sounded a bit like "that's it - your dd has an allergy" - didn't mean that .

She may well be fine, but it's better to find out for sure one way or the other - that's what I really meant - and even if she is allergic, take it from one who knows - it WILL be okay even if it's scary at first. x

Thanks for all the advice, it is really helpful. I think I will make an appointment to go and see my own GP to discuss this matter more fully and ask about a referral, the emergency doctor was great but didn't have time to address all my concerns properly!