Peanut Allergy

[wineandharibo]

We suspect DD (4) has a peanut allergy. She tried some peanut butter on toast a few years ago, but just licked it and her lips swelled up. It was easily solved with an antihistamine and we never tried again. DH ate some peanuts recently and afterwards kissed her forehead and her skin swelled up slightly but we controlled it with antihistamines again.
She has now started school, and even though the school handles no nuts, I would still like to see what we can do to protect her. I'm concerned what may happen if she accidentally eats something containing peanut. What are the first steps to get her diagnosed and perhaps some meds for emergencies? GP is being extremely unhelpful and said: 'I'm sure she'll be fine if she is just careful what she eats.'

Ask to be referred to a hospital allergy clinic asap. My daughter turned out to be very allergic to all sorts of nuts and peanuts and was given an epipen to deal with emergencies.

Yes I would absolutely want an official diagnosis. You may need an epi pen.

The GP sounds completely irresponsible. Is there a different one you can see? Do you have an allergy team at your hospital? Don't wait for something to happen.

When to seek medical advice. If you think you or your child may have a food allergy, it's very important to ask for a professional diagnosis from your GP. They can then refer you to an allergy clinic

^^From the NHS website.

www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg116/resources/cg116-food-allergy-in-children-and-young-people-full-guideline3

^^Nice guidelines. Wave both to the GP. Look on the allergy uk website too.

You really need to be referred to an allergy clinic and have some tests done. Allergic reactions can often get worse on each exposure so you need a proper diagnosis so you know what you are dealing with. I think I would ask your GP for a referral and if he tries to put you off ask for him to put it in writing that he won't stating the reasons why. I don't suppose he would as, from what you've said, your dd definitely needs further investigation and I don't think he could justify not referring her.

FFS! Your GP is an idiot What you are describing is a serious peanut allergy and your daughter needs a referral to an allergy specialist. if he starts bullshitting you again ask for a second opinion.

In the meantime, start carrying liquid antihistamine with you, lodge some at the school and make yourself familiar with the symptoms of anaphylaxis (these are just precautionary measures which you'll hopefully not need). I'd recommend that you stop eating peanuts yourself, or cooking with them at home until you've seen a specialist too.

Also, try the allergy board on here for support and advice - it's really good.

Definitely get a referral. She currently has a mild reaction to peanuts but as others have said it could get worse. She might also be allergic to other nuts and have a worse reaction to them so needs to be tested. My DD is mildly allergic to peanuts which I only found out after testing following a life-threatening reaction to cashews. It turned out pistachios will cause anaphylaxis for her also.

In the meantime please carry child antihistimines everywhere as Barbarian says and make sure they are wherever your daughter is when not with you. Piriton basically saved my daughter's life when I gave her cashew nut butter before I knew she had allergies.

Thanks for your advice everyone! I went to a private GP and now have an appointment with a paediatric allergy specialist. Really good advice about the liquid antihistamines too- I have little stashes everywhere now. Thanks again!

Glad you've got things moving, OP. Don't forget, if you can get prescribed an epi-pen (which by the sounds of it you should), to get one for each setting that your daughter is in - eg childminder, school etc. I never even thought about that until the GP told me to do so.