Really worried - dd had allergic reaction to nuts today - advice would be gratefully received

[twoisplenty]

My 4yo dd ate a choc bar with hazelnuts in it. In the past she has had reaction to nuts - nettlerash type of rash, itchy. But this time she was itchy all over her body, and complained her mouth hurt.

I gave her piriton then took her to the GP. He gave her some steroid medicine, and warned my that next time it could be worse.

I'm so worried now (obviously).

Anyone who is further ahead of us along this road, can you help me calm down? I could cry.

Anyone, pleeeease?

Has the doc suggested anything like an allergy clinic? They'd be able to test what she reacts to so you know what to avoid. My nephew has a nut allergy, and they listed what he reacts to and how badly. He also has to have an epi-pen in case of exposure. It's probabl very scary just now, but once you know what to avoid it's not so hard now that labelling is so much better.

Oh, thankyou! No, the doc didn't say anything about the future, or tests. It was a last-minute appointment though, so maybe if I make a new appointment with her usual GP, I could talk these things through.

I feel worn out now, with the worry etc.

Thanks for your help AmuminScotland

My son reacts to hazlenuts but not too seriously. He says it hurts in his mouth and throat and at this point I have given him antihistamine (cetirizine) and then he is fine. His reactions have not got worse when he has accidently had something in with hazlenut. He was tested skin prick and blood tests which showed a mild reaction and he does have other allergies. It would be worthwile pushing for a referral to an allergy clinic/immunologist so that they can do a blood test for all nuts so at least you know which are OK and which are not.

You should certainly make an appointment with your usual GP and they'll almost certainly refer her to a specialist - they'll be able to give you the best possible information based on how severe the reaction is. I don't know if it's usual to get epipens, or if it depends on the type of reaction, but they'll be able to go through it all with you - I expect they have leaflets and stuff which covers the usual questions so you don't have to take it all in at once.

The doc just seemed rather blase about it, like he'd seen it all before. Well he might have done, but it's all new to me!

My dd kept saying, before bedtime, "I love you mummy". It made me worry even more, will she wake up in the morning? Stupid worry, I know, the medicine calmed things down pretty quickly.

Sorry to sound OTT. I'm sure I'll calm down with some facts to hand. I might do a bit of research on the net.

So long as she's now away from what set it off there's no reason to worry that it could "kick off" again, so don't fret. But you might want to check the labelling on foods you've got in the cupboard to make sure you don't give her any nuts by accident. Everything should be well labelled, unless you buy anything loose in health food shops or that sort of thing, so you can be confident that it would say if there were any nuts there.

My DS has a walnut allergy. When he was about 20 months, he had a piece of walnut bread and started screaming and fiddling with his mouth, saying "burning!" He was then sick. We took him to the GP, who referred him to an allergy specialist at the hospital. They did some blood tests which were "inconclusive", and said we should go back for him to be re-tested when he was five.

We never had him re-tested. One reason was that the blood test was so badly done that he still remembers it to this day (with horror!), and I can't face putting him through it again. The other reason was that DH gave him a piece of walnut cake to see what would happen (surely only a DH could come up with that idea?!) - and what happened was that he was violently sick in Betty's cafe, after complaining that his mouth was burning. So we have decided that he is definitely walnut-allergic!

We've not tried any other nuts with him or DD, and don't have any plans to try them either. I'm a bit scared of what might happen, and I'm very scared that each episode will be worse than the preceding one. If I can ever afford it, I'll get him properly tested - I think York Tests are supposed to be very good, but they're around £200. If I were you, I'd definitely ask for your DD to be referred to the allergy clinic. Then at least you would probably know what you're dealing with...

Good luck!

My ds is allergic to tree nuts,carries an epipen .

I think you need to get a referral to allergy clinic where they will do skin prick tests.

In the meantime avoid all nuts and carry some antihistamine with you just in case.Also inform school/playgroup.

Don't panic she may just be allergic to hazlenuts and no others .

It is really scary at first but you do get used to it in time and learn to live with it.

My ds is allergic to tree nuts,carries an epipen .

I think you need to get a referral to allergy clinic where they will do skin prick tests.

In the meantime avoid all nuts and carry some antihistamine with you just in case.Also inform school/playgroup.

Don't panic she may just be allergic to hazlenuts and no others .

It is really scary at first but you do get used to it in time and learn to live with it.

Your responses have made me feel much better, that it may well only be nuts we have to worry about, and it's something that is understood by schools etc, and taken seriously.

I shall indeed make an appointment with the GP and ask for more testing.

She's fine today!

And, Dottoressa, my dh also decided to test our dd at Christmas, just before bedtime, to see if she was ok with nuts, and she rashed then. He got a good telling off I can tell you!

Ah, DHs and their DIY tests...

I have persuaded DH not to test DS in public again (and preferably not at all!!)

I should add that DS's school is very good about his allergy - they know about it, and are very careful to make sure that the children in his class don't (eg) share snacks with one another. I think schools do tend to take these things seriously, thank goodness!

Agree with everyone else - push for referral to specialist. See if you can also get blood test done to check for other allergies too.

I'm surprised that if he warned that the next reaction could be worse (he's right about that), that he didnt refer you on to someone for advice and for possible prescription for an epipen (which DD has).

Try posting on allergies thread- lots of us have food allergic children and I found people's experiences very helpful.
My dd reacts to eggs,lentils, strawberry, pineapple and possibly rapeseed (not tried her with nuts yet but seems likely) and has eczema and fwiw I have been there with the worry and feeling worn out. But you do learn to live with it and it does become second nature to read every label (I didn't believe I would ever feel like that but its true!) Pants though!
For me it was a huge battle to get to see an allergy specialist but I got there in the end but is different in different parts of the country- but do try the allergy thread as there are lots of people in the same boat and further down the road who can give you practical advice.
Good luck

yes you need a referral to allergy clinic for tests.

yes allergic reactions can get worse over time and with each exposure. dd1#s first reaction to cats was just a rash. thn a few months later she had a complete wheezing asthma attack with rash and other symptoms when just being in a house where a cat has been. but as she has gotton older it hasnt gotton worse each time, its been steady. same as her reactions to food colourings, they are now a regular allergy rather than a extreme one. we try and avoid both things for her now.

i know its not the same as a nut reaction.