When does reactions become serious.

[Oakleavesandcookies]

Hi everyone, I really need some advice and a sanity check
My 3-year-old son has had an egg allergy since birth. Historically, it’s only ever caused GI issues (sickness and bloody diarrhea). However, over the last 6–8 months, his allergy has completely changed. He has started reacting to egg in the environment (airborne) by coughing, sneezing, getting hives, and developing a croaky/hoarse voice.
The reactions are getting more frequent though it does always seem to resolve once away from the egg. Yesterday he nibbled a tiny bit of biscuit that had been labelled vegan which wasn’t and immediately broke out in hives and started coughing. Piriton sorted the hives and he only coughed and croaked for a bit then was fine that his airway is getting involved is terrifying me, though I’m glad I’ve seen so swelling.
I saw the GP today who prescribed Montelukast (a daily preventative!) and flat-out refused an EpiPen, I had been asked to enquire from the local authority catering team - as I’ve been trying to get him into breakfast club. She told me she "cannot prescribe an EpiPen unless he has already had a full anaphylactic reaction."
I am in Wales. From everything I’ve read online, UK/BSACI guidelines say that if a food allergy involves respiratory symptoms (like a cough and a croaky voice), they are at high risk and should be given auto-injectors as a safety net.
Has anyone else been told this by a GP?
Shes asked for his consultant to see him again so I’ve rung and left a message. I’m just concerned that it’s now airborne and effecting his airways and breathing. I know it’s not that series as it doesn’t affect his circulation and does resolve once moved away from the egg but from what I read each reaction could potential be worse and put him into full anaphylaxis. Is this right?

For what it’s worth I think his GP is amazing and has helped so much with his allergies and other bowel problems. I’m just concerned and I’m not that parent normally to worry but I’m looking at cafes in a whole new terrifying light. 🤦🏻‍♀️😆

Coughing and croaky voice are signs of anaphylaxis and should be taken very seriously. He does need epipens.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/anaphylaxis/

Thanks - i was told because it resolves fairly quickly it’s not by the GP.

This sort of reaction only started after we tried and spectacularly failed the egg ladder in January. He was sick after one cupcake out of 12 that had one egg in split between all the cupcakes. He was so sick we ended up in an and e as we thought it was his appendix as he wouldn’t let us touch his stomach at all.

Then around two weeks later he had his first reaction in the environment. They said his symptoms were worse as his immune system was in over drive and it should calm down again. Now the Gp hope the tablet she prescribed to be taken daily should do that. Does this sound right?

Im not usually so unsure but everything I had read was contradictory to what she said.

Demand a referral to Allergy clinic. Your little one needs an EpiPen.

Thank you. I’ve been told before there is no allergy clinic as such in our area. He’s had bloods when he was an infant as he seemed to be reacting to everything, that did show egg was raised. However his last lot of bloods has shown that his IGE marker is raised it’s lower than a year ago..
We are under a consultant so I’m hoping she can help

your Gp is wrong. Coughing and croaky voice are anaphylaxis symptoms.

Slightly different situation OP but my son was initially refused an epi pen by the allergy clinic in our area, on the basis also that he’d never had an anaphylaxis reaction (he had reacted to cashews through breast milk and had a positive skin prick test with a large wheal, as well as positive IgE blood test).

I got a 2nd opinion and wrote to the allergy clinic and Pals confirming I intended to make a complaint, and I wasn’t happy with the wait and see approach. The allergy consultant then prescribed an epi pen (after consulting with specialists at the Evelina hospital who confirmed they agreed with the need for epi pen).

Sad that it should be needed to push a complaint to get anywhere, but I would definitely say your child needs one. Definitely push the consultant if you can

Your GP is an idiot and unable to recognise signs of anaphylaxis, OP.
What you have described is an anaphylactic reaction.
Not sure what they mean by a ‘full’ one.

Our allergy consultant told us that once the airways are compromised he has no choice but to prescribe epipens.
Symptoms were also from egg allergy in our case.