what do you do when you suspect an allergy? DD going blotchy when she's eaten anything with hazlenuts in

[NightLark]

DD (19 months) has twice this week gone red and blotchy around her mouth and chin. Once after eating some bread with Nutella on it, once after eating a Kinder hippo biscuit.

They both have hazelnuts in.

I can't think of anything else they contain that she hasn't been exposed to a hundred times before.

The reaction is immediate - visible as soon as I wipe her face after eating. So it's either the facecloth or the food.

Do i go to her GP? Or just keep an eye on it?

Part of my brain is going aaargh, nut allergy! Part is yeah, but she's fine.

I would see about it, as allergies can get worse at any time, so it's well to be tested and prepared.

Also, obviously avoid hazelnuts, I'm sure you are already.

My DD is, interestingly, allergic to peanuts but not hazelnuts.

Thanks Fanjo. I'll make a GP appointment. I've told nursery, but they already have a nut-free policy (enforced, as they confiscated my DS's sandwiches once in the mistaken belief that they were peanut butter - they were very buttery marmite!). I guess it's one way to stay strong about not allowing her Nutella!

Yes, it really helps if nursery are on the ball, my DD is allergic to loads of things, they are probably more vigilant than me even.

Also, when my DD had a skin reaction to peanuts at the same age the GP wasn't too worried and just said to keep Piriton handy, she was only referred after she had a swelling reaction to egg, so I wouldn't be too worried yet.

Piriton - there's something I don't have in the house and another good reason to go to the docs. Thanks for the reassurance too.

My DS did this to eggs and marmite but outgrew it, now my DGS started the same symptoms with white fish. The redness went down in about 20 mins. No swelling anywhere (Its the swelling which is more worrying). Dont worry too much, just avoid the hazlenuts and keep piriton syrup in the house

You can buy piriton syrup over the counter for over ones

Yes, it's always good to get it free though, I would just chat to the GP anyway!

I'm allergic to pecans but, at the moment, no others.

However, the allergy consultant did say that with nut allergies you can suddenly become allergic to others and have a major (anaphylactic) reaction to one you have previously been fine with.

I was given an Epipen as a precaution as my pecan reaction made my throat swell and I couldn't breathe properly. Necking half a bottle of piriton sorted it but again, they said that you can never predict the extent of the reaction and next time it could be a full on collapse scenario so it was better to be safe than sorry.

I avoid anything that has actual nuts in but don't worry about traces or 'factory where nuts are used' warnings.

I would ask for her to be referred for tests just so you know what to be ultra vigilant about and what you can relax about, iiwy.

I would ask to be referred to a specialist to have it checked, given that severe allergies can be life threatening. Basically, protein allergies (which include (hazel)nuts, shellfish, peanuts - which are not nuts but pulses) can be extremely serious. Whereas other allergies (debatable whether allergy is the right term here) to do with certain fruits (strawberries, apples, etc.) or chocolate etc. are not life threatening but no doubt inconvenient. Then there is of course the whole class of dairy products and wheat products which can cause all sorts of reactions.

If she has been exposed and you think she is allergic then they can do a clear test (i.e. with a clear outcome, she is or she is not allergic). Unfortunately it is not possible to test whether you are allergic to something before you have been exposed to it. Advantage of testing is that you know whether you should exclude certain foods and also whether you may need to exclude related foods (other nut types, walnuts, etc.).