which came first - chicken or egg allergy ?

[MudMum]

Sorry cringe-worthy title couldn't resist.

When my ds was being weaned from 6 months allergies came up. I had kept a food diary until we finally got appt and noted possible reactions to chicken so asked for testing.

The consultant paed said they'd test for egg as there was no test for chicken. The allergy tester (not sure they are nurses presumably) said they were two different proteins. The dietician said the same, so 2 out of 3 say no relation. He tested very strongly allergic to egg, milk, soya.

So we have not given him chicken, but wondering if anyone or their dc who are allergic to egg also avoid chicken as I've never heard of this?? He gets protein from other sources (fish, beef, lamb etc) but I personally would much prefer cooking chicken, plus he might like it (and I am concerned about his weight)

He's 14 months btw

thanks

Hi

dd had egg, milk and soya allergies.

We also thought she was allergic to white fish and chicken as a baby (due to some reactions). They did a test for both of those (white fish and chicken) which both came up negative but I did introduce it slightly later (chicken that is) and in small quantities. That's my memory of the test! I'm pretty sure I asked them to test for chicken!

Dh is allergic to eggs and chicken but he's the only person I know who is allergic to both.

Dd eats chicken fine now so I think it may have been a temporary thing with her rather than a permanent allergy.

That's interesting. I once did a search online for chicken allergy, apparently britney spear's son had a reaction thought to be from chicken at first but then thought more likely to have been from the fry stuff on it! Other than that I've not met anyone else and feel a bit pfb saying 'no chicken'. Do you think introducing it through a stock or something?

DD (nearly 10 months) allergic to egg, milk and cod. They tested for all sorts of things but not chicken. She eats a lot of it and seems fine though!

I know chicken isn't on the list of typical allergens that are usually tested for, but you should be able to request. You will prob have to take tiny samples of both raw and cooked chicken in with you.

I never thought of that, makes sense to bring it in! He's apparently going to be re-tested at 18 months (though am freakin as have had no correspondence, and the dietician said I'd need to go back to gp again for re-referral, but when I went to gp he was like 'what would you come to me first for, you'll get a letter?'). Worried it'll be a not my problem, it's that person's problem kind of dance for a while and in the meantime we are left stressed and annoyed.

yes, I know what you mean. It's a minefield isn't it.

What we noticed with dd is that she seemed to have quite a poor digestive system anyway. So it would often look like she was having a reaction to something and then the next time she had it, she'd be fine. When the reactions are not immediately noticeable (like they were with egg, milk, soya), it becomes very difficult to determine what foods are causing the problem and it may not even be the foods!

What we did with fish (and chicken) was to make it very very plain at first. So I think we boiled the fish and grilled the chicken (plain, with no breadcrumbs or any coating and definitely no sauce) and just served it with plain vegetables and rice. Although that's horribly boring, at least you get a feel for how they are doing with it!

What sort of reactions does he have to milk,egg,soya? Dd's reactions were also v strong so I knew what to look for (reason I'm asking is that dd used to come up in hives very quickly first of all - if your dd has a similar reaction, might be worth rubbing a bit of cooked chicken on her arm to see if a hive comes up. It's by no means a definitive test but if anything came up by doing that, I certainly wouldn't feed it to her iyswim!). Make sure you have Piriton on hand in case there's a problem.

call them madmum (the hospital) - dd was retested at 18 months, then 24 months etc. etc. until she passed one of the tests lol!

I think I will call them. Embarrassingly, I've lost the number for the dietician directly but have name so am prepared to hold or leave a message with the dept or whatever.

He gets hives. It's awful. Yesterday he had some hummous when I was at a friend's, didn't think to look at the packaging as he's had loads of hummous, but turns out tesco brand has milk?!?!?!?!? It seems the reaction is getting worse, as his lips swelled right up as well as the hives.

It really is awful. He seems to be getting more reactions lately and it's so hard to know from what. Then you get to wait and hope after every new meal, wondering if THIS is going to be the time we end up in hospital or whatever.

An allergist told my dad who has food allergies that you feel really crappy afterwards as your insides look all hivey like your outside did for a few days. He described the insides after a reaction as looking like hamburger. EW

yes, we found with dd that we had to be v vigilant for around 3 days after a reaction

if I was you, I would carry on giving Piriton for a day or so afterwards as we found the reaction quite long lasting too. Also, avoid new food and give v plain stuff after a reaction just in case something does get triggered (because sometimes I think the reaction just flares up again, even if they aren't having a separate allergic reaction iyswim)

The reactions can get worse over time because the body gets better at recognising the allergen with every exposure.

I have a friend who is allergic to corn and can't eat chicken unless it comes from a free range farm. Ordinary non-organic chickens can be fed a very limited diet and sometimes this diet can be composed of common allergens. I don't know how scientific this is, but my friend knows her own reactions, and this is her theory (based on 'you are what you eat').

Interesting, mathanxiety. If we do eventually introduce slowly and simply, it'll be the most freerange organic etc.

So yest he had vomiting (he NEVER vomits) and diarrhea. If the milk from hummous was still in system from Mon wonder if from that, if reaction can go on 3 days. I feel terrible! Will never, not ever, never feed w/out checking!

Ds definitely has a full body reaction after exposure to his allergens.

Sometimes he has had a very fine, bumpy rash that works it's way down his body over a couple of weeks. He is grumpy and looks washed out too.

He is 8 now. Used to be very allergic to eggs (would react to smallest amount) but tested negative and passed food challenge this easter.

He was fine with chicken but still has other allergies.

I read quite a militant book about allergies by a Dr. Doris Rapp, called "Is This Your Child", a few years ago. I don't know if it's still in print or available, but it was very thorough about reactions.

Thank you mathanxiety I'll check for that book. I need reference rather than sifting through internet...always seems to end badly.

Excellent advise here, thanks all

hhmmm, agree two different protiens.......................but, the chicken that caused the first reaction.........was is soya fed chicken?

worth asking when testing when you take the chicken to the clinic for spt.

goo luck!

what a minefield it is. Bridewolf - didn't occur to me re soya fed chickens. And this may be totally dumb but would other animals be fed soya? He's been fine with all other meats (though haven't tried turkey or other bird-types)