Possible tomato allergy in toddler-any experience?

[newtonupontheheath]

DS (22mo) has had a reaction a few times when eating tomatoes-well, we think tomatoes anyway!!

Initially, it was just a redness around his mouth, but we have also noticed a few white bumps. When it was just redness, we didn't make the connection as we thought his food could have been too hot.. not that we give him food too hot, but it wasn't really "anything"

A couple of weeks ago, we had a fry up and DS had some of the cooked, chopped tomatoes. He'd had a white t-shirt on so I took it off and left him without a top on. The redness we'd seen before spread all down his chest and stomach, under his neck and round his mouth. This time he also had more white bumps...similar to if you get stinging nettle rash, is the only way I can describe it.

Rash doesn't last long, about 30mins to an hour and he's showed no other symptoms.

So, we avoid tomatoes. Seems simple enough. On Monday, he had some cucumber. It had been cut up on the chopping board next to tomatoes. Cue worst reaction yet- from ear to ear, round his mouth, under his neck and right down his chest and stomach to the top of his nappy. Now, he's not the tidiest of eaters, but its unlikely that he smeared the "contaminated" cucumber that far across his body! And he hasn't even eaten bloomin' tomatoes!

Took him to GP yesterday, who wasn't really any help..... so I guess I'm just wondering if anybody else has had experience of this type of reaction and what do we do next?

We have had this - can only say (if in England- don't know how it works elsewhere) return to your doctor and get a referral to the allergy clinic at your local hospital.

Sounds like a worsening reaction and it really needs to be looked at! Now.

Thanks.

I'm not over-reacting, am I? We couldn't be sure it was tomatoes but tried to eliminate them anyway.

We should have been more careful with the cucumber, however there doesn't seem to be any correlation with the scale of the rash and the "exposure" to tomatoes which indicates to me (panicky with pfb)

1. It's not tomatoes
2. It IS tomatoes, but getting much worse

GP wasn't our regular GP so wondering whether to go back when I know normal one will be there....

Shameless bump.....anybody else?!

Nursery have just rang and the rash has returned. He has eaten fish fingers, boiled potatoes and sweetcorn for lunch. So no tomatoes.

Trying to get in with usual GP tomorrow.

Was there ketchup served with the fish fingers? Even if he wasn't served it, he may have touched some (it's virtually impossible to totally prevent toddlers touching each others' food).

Tomatoes used to give our son uticaria badly. It's stopped these days, but he doesn't eat with his fingers so much. Def get a referral though to allergy clinic as can't be too sure. Also, indicates atopic reaction so if tomatoes, may also be other stuff.

Hmm... maybe. I didn't ask.

Nursery manager did specifically say "he had no tomatoes, and nothing containing tomatoes"

I will check when I pick him up

Thanks

Hi my son had this when little
Potatoes, tomatoes and Aubergine are all related that could be why.

Fishfingers often have paprika added as a colouring in the breadcrumbs. My DS2 has had problems with tomatoes and peppers which included paprika.

My son had this with raw tomatoes only, would get a red face, and then eczema patches on his body. We cut tomatoes out and the eczema went. I've waited a yr, he's now 2.5yo, and tried again and he's fine. No eczema any more or red face anymore. Don't know why!

Thank you for your thoughts.

Egg It's interesting what you say about the paprika, as we don't eat fish fingers at home so I would have never picked up on that.

I took him back to the GP this morning who wasn't any more help. He said to eliminate all the foods he has eaten when he's had the rash and then introduce them one at a time. He said to leave tomatoes until the last food as it sounds most like some sort of cross- contamination. As I hadn't prepared the food at nursery, I can't say whether there had been but hopefully that will be the case.

Nemo That's reassuring to hear, thank you. I am so disappointed/upset as he will eat ANYTHING and, as my side of the family only eat very plain food, I am really rpoud of his eating habits and his attitude to trying everything put in front of him. To cut out tomatoes forever gives me a headache!!

Hoops sorry have only just seen your post... Excuse my ignorance, is uticaria the rash he is getting? GP says only allergic reaction gives a rash that then disappears.

His skin is really rough today and not baby soft at all

My dd had this reaction with tomatoes and potatoes (and any tomato sauce/juice etc) when she was small, it only ever affected the skin around her face if it was in contact with her face iykwim (rubbing it found her face as toddlers do ) she is still slightly allergic but still only a rash do I let her eat them anyway. As she's got older there's less contact on the skin anyway.

If the reaction is getting worse got to your gp and see if they can refer you for allergy testing.