Tatt Can I ask you a question please?

[Squidmission]

Hi
I started a thread a while ago where I was worried about how I would know if ds2 had a serious nut allergy if he'd never had any. I was concerned as I was going on holiday. I mentioned that his skin prick test was 4mm and you said that it didn't sound like a nut allergy. Could I ask you what you meant please? All of ds2's tests were 3-4 and the consultant said that those results were a significant reaction.
I'd be really interested to know what you meant as I find you're very knowledgable about allergies.
Thanks

Hi there squidmission

I just wanted to add my twopenneth worth on this. My ds had a 5-6mm reaction for brazil nuts. My doctor said at the time that anything over 3mm was clinically significant. I have heard of people having 12mm plus reactions which for a time I thought meant that they were "more" allergic than my ds. I have however adjusted my thinking on that as time has gone on as I don't think it works like that with skin pricks. If you get a reaction, you are allergic - there is no way of predicting future reactions to exposure. I think.

I also look forward to hearing from tatt, as like you, I always welcome her input.

beggsie

sorry have forgotten the thread but I suspect there were other things that meant it didn't sound clear-cut. Over 8mm for peanut you can be pretty sure they have nut allergy and below that they may be sensitised but not allergeric. www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/118889476/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0

Clinical experience is always far more important than a skin prick test.

sorry about the lousy typing.

we were told anything less than 3mm then theyu would try the food in hospital. Anything over then avoid.

But were also told if you come up neg on RAST and skin prick but still have a reaction you have an allergy..

Thanks for getting back to me Tatt and thanks Beggsie and girlsyearapart. All input on here is valuable, as far as I'm concerned
If it wasn't for everyone's help and information here, I would probably still be none the wiser about ds2's allergies and would be trying to feed him all the foods he's allergic to see if he's 'built up a tolerance'

I'm actually quite thrilled to hear that ds2 may not have serious allegies (although I realise he still may, but there seems to be some hope now)

The link doesn't work for me, unfortunately.

Hi Squid, just adding a bit more. My DS had his first (later realized it was the second one) quite scary reaction to a cashew turned out to be 6 mm on skin. We also found then that hazelnut was 9 mm (I thought then thanks god it wasn't a hazelnut I gave to him!) but as far as I understand it's no way to say someone is more or less allergic, my doctor didn't say that he was more to hazelnut because skin got worse. Not sure tbh, but he had 2 mm to sesame and I was told that wasn;t clinically rlevant and he should keep eating sesame, same with walnuts. Ask you doctor would be my advice as high or low risk to a worse attack is related to other things as well, not only skin mm.

sorry don't know why it didn't link properly, I cut and pasted from the browser??? I'll try again but if you put "Interpretation of tests for nut allergy in one thousand patients" into google its the third link on my search.

www.ingentaconnect.com/content/bsc/cea/2003/00000033/00000008/art00006

The level considered significant varies from one food to another, I only really know about nut.

Thanks for the link that one works. Its very interesting reading.

Madre thanks also.

I'm definitely going to discuss this with the dr at our next appointment.

if his skin prick tests have been below 8mm I'd want a blood test. Depending on the results of that you might then want to have a food challenge (in hospital with proper resources available naturally).