Can allergies get WORSE?

[Weta]

DS1 has a serious allergy to milk proteins, and it seems to be getting worse rather than better as we were always assured it would!

We've just had an IgE blood test done and it's come back with 17.5 for alpha-lactalbumine (sorry this is in French!) and 16.8 for casein, whereas 2 years ago he was at 5.78 and 9.49 (and before that around 7 for the casein).

We will see the specialist in the next couple of weeks, but I just wondered if anyone knew anything about this?

He was also previously allergic to egg white, which has gone, and kiwifruit, which is now minimal.

PS He's 5.5

Yes it is possible. I can't remember the exact readings but ds had a blood test that identified a mild (grade 1) milk protein allergy when he was about 7 months but his reaction when I gave him milk was noticeable but not too severe. We were advised to cut out all dairy which we did.

When he was about 2 we had an incident with some milk chocolate (dh's fault not mine!) and he had a severe reaction (lots of swelling, trouble breathing etc). When they redid the IgE tests his levels had gone up massively (now grade 4 allergy). The consultant did say that was to be expected as he hadn't been exposed to any dairy in the meantime.

I don't know if they get worse before they get better and this is normal or it's a sign he won't outgrow the allergy. Maybe a more qualified Mumsnetter could comment and help us out??

The immunologist told us there is an 80% chance he will outgrow it which fits with other figures I have read. Fingers crossed he will but I'm not taking it as a given.

Yes allergies often get worse. However no test is infallible and milk allergy is often outgrown. So I wouldn't give up hope yet but neither would I be rushing into a food challenge.

Thanks Tatt and Bilbomum, that's interesting.

I never really expected it to just go away, but get kind of irritated with medical professionals trying to reassure you by saying x% grow out of it by age 3, and then when you get to 3 they say x% by age 5 etc. We're now at 5 and it appears to be worse rather than better (which would also fit with the odd accidental reaction we've had to tiny amounts). I do know a couple of people whose kids have grown out of it by age 10, so I'm not giving up hope but I do feel sad for DS1 as he does ask about it.

Certainly won't be doing a food challenge - we did one at age 2.5 (they're very keen here in France) and he got to 5ml before the full-on reaction. It was useful to know where the threshold was, but we decided then that we wouldn't do it again until there was a very significant decrease in the blood test levels.

Will see what specialist has to say...

A friend's child had problems with milk - was told he'd outgrow by 3 and as he approached 5 it looked like he'd have them for life. A few months later he was having milk with no problem.

Some people think skin prick size is a better sign than blood tests, it does vary.

Thanks Tatt, fingers crossed then!
He's never had a skin prick test for dairy as his allergy is quite serious and the doctors haven't wanted to.

Sorry to hear about your experience, though maybe one day your child will grow out of it anyway?! at least one gets used to handling it, and I figure one day it will be his responsibility rather than mine scary though that sounds!