Do they really 'grow out' of allergies?

[Laura032004]

DS - 15 months has an intolerance / allergy (not sure which is the right term), to gluten and cows milk.

For the past week he's been quite ill with stomach pain and diahorrea (sp?) because of an ingredient in a yoghurt which I didn't realise was a wheat derivative.

I had thought that we were doing quite well with keeping him off things that upset him, but I feel terrible now that he's gone through a week of pain because of something that I was feeding him

So, after the rambling, my question is, do they really grow out of these things like everybody says? I'm really hopeful about the cows milk as he's OK on live yoghurt and goats milk, but the seemingly smallest amount of gluten, and he's ill for days. I'm living in hope of him growing out of it. When does this happen on average? Am I right in thinking that the more he is exposed to gluten in the meantime that a)subsequent reactions will be worse 2) the less likely he is to grow out of it?

I'm not sure whether I should go back to the GP and push for tests. Is it worth it at this stage? They said just to leave it a year (until he was about 2) and that's all the advice we got.

Thanks for reading this ramble!

sometimes. some people belive things go in 7year cycles. my dd12 dermotologist consultant is confident she'll forw out of it by the time she is 6/7.

I am 27 and used to have many allergies and these lasted until I was in my teens. I can eat anything now although I do have the occasional flare up of excema on my hands. I also have asthma and have virtually grown out of that too. I hardly ever need my inhalers now.

I've never heard of 7 years before. Was hoping for 2 or 3 for some reason!

my dd who is also 15months is exactly like your ds, allergic/intolerant to dairy,gluten,citrus fruits,tomatos etc etc etc, her dietitician is confident that she will grow out of the allergies but she has tld me maybe by her teens

ds3 had eczema really bad from birth; we went on holiday abroad when he was 7 months old and it cleared up completely. He had the odd patch now and again but has never had it bad since then. He's now 2.6yrs.

Looks like we're in for the long haul then!

DS had severe eczema but now only get flares if we omit the regular treatment for several days. His allergy to tomatoes is definitively improving, we still need to be careful but he doesn't react anymore to small quantities. He has peanut allergy which I don't know if it will disapear, but I have a lot of hope that the enormous list of food intolerances he currently have will become shorter in the future.

I think you should push for a coeliac blood test definitely. The more he is exposed to it the more damage it will do if he is coeliac. You need to know this, also you can get things on prescription but only with a diagnosis.

I have given up wondering about whether ds will grow out of his allergies - because I got very dissappointed when he was 2 and everything was actually worse - despite avoiding everything with zeal.

As he gets older I realise that we will be able to cope whatever happens and whilst it would be nice for him to outgrow them before he starts school it's just not worth pinning all my hopes on.

I used to have lots of allergies to unknown things (would break out in hives frequently for no apparent reason) when I was a child. I grew out of it by puberty and no problem until my early 40's when it all started again. There is hope.
Also, at around 6 months my dd had an allergic reaction to either egg or an antibiotic (we're not sure which since both were given to her mistakenly at the same time). She is now 2.5 and has had both egg and same antibiotic since then and had no problem with either.

Chandra according to our consultant about 20% of children with nut allergy will grow out of it by age 5 but if they have it then they are stuck with it for life

Laura children definitely do grow out of some allergies, particularly milk. OTOH I have met people who have been told their children have grown out of an anaphylactic allergy only to have it reappear later I don't know for sure if people ever grow out of a gluten problem, I suspect its less likely.

There is some cases where gentle exposure has built up tolerances, explains why some people "grow out" of certain allergies. I was heavily allergic to pet hair as a child - fullblown flu symptoms, not just runny nose. When DH was my DP he had two cats and I agreed to give it a try as they were old pets and I loved them too. I had a dreadful time for a couple of weeks of moving in. Slowly it got better and after a month or so of constant daily exposure I was fine. Interestingly, the cats have long been buried and now am a little sensitive to pets again if I touch them and then touch my face/rub my eyes, but otherwise 90% still cured.
Not suggesting that all allergy sufferers should deliberately expose themselves, but it might go some way to explain why some people grow out of stuff if they are constantly exposed to micro amounts in the atmosphere/diet?

My specialist said that those nut allergic people with no other allergies were more likely to have it for life than those with multiple allergies including peanut.

Thanks for all of those responses.

Does anybody know anything more about the coeliac blood test? We were told that there was no tests they could do without putting him on a gluten diet for a week - is this the same thing? I would like to 'know' that there is definitely something there - have heard too many times that 'all kids get upset stomachs' etc etc, and sometimes I end up doubting myself IYKWIM.

Is there a directory of foods that you can get which tell you which to avoid? I just don't always recognise the ingredients as something ds shouldn't be having. If only they all put a gluten free label on if appropriate!

You will have to put him on a gluten diet for the blood test, which will mean pain, but at least will rule out coeliac. Ask about having it done now because the yoghurt incident if it was enough to give symptoms should be enough to get a test result. When I had the test I had to have half a piece of toast every day for 5 days.

I would look for a coeliac website for a list of gluten containing products.

A question about gluten intlerancy test diet, do you mean to eliminate all gluten from diet for a week? or is it to give him gluten so the results are clearer?

Sorry, I meant to ask about coeliac test rather than gluten intolerancy (related but not quite the same

this website

www.allergy-clinic.co.uk/coeliac_disease.htm

seems to suggest the blood test would work on a diet that was gluten free but that a biopsy to confirm the result wouldn't.

These people www.coeliac.co.uk/ do a booklet of suitable foods. Basically whenever you start a free from (anything) diet its best to avoid prepared foods until you have time to minutely study labels. You need to get used to checking ingredient lists because you can find warnings on the most unlikely foods - and possibly even in medicines and cosmetics

I'd never even thought of medicines Does anybody know if the following are gluten / dairy free?

Calpol
Calprofen
Medised

(Please say yes - they're my lifesavers when ds cuts 4 teeth in a week! )

we have calpol sachets which don't seem to have anything with gluten in - but the preservatives may affect asthmatics. At least that's what it says here www.eatwell.gov.uk/healthissues/foodintolerance/foodintolerancetypes/foodadditiv/

Sorry don't have the others. I'm sure most medicines will be OK - just giving an example of something I didn't think to check at first.

Think I may try gluten free for a few days after having a look at some of these websites.