Allergies in 6 month old

[Lucylou321]

DD is 6.5 months and has been on solids about a month. When she turned 6 months I gave her a small amount of egg to try and within an hour she was red and blotchy all over and we ended up in A&E where they agreed it was an egg allergy and gave anti histamines. When I asked what I should do next they said well don't give her egg and that was that.
Around a week later and I gave her a tiny amount of peanut butter and she didn't appear to react at all so I thought all was good and it was just egg.
I then gave her some more peanut butter again another time and within minutes she had gone red in the face with blotches around her mouth, her face had gone puffy around her eyes and she had a rash under her chin/neck area. She also had red eyes and was coughing which she hadn't been before. I rang the doctor who saw her straight away (I was going to hospital if they weren't free to see her) and within 20 minutes the rash had gone and it was just a bit of puffiness left around her face. He basically looked it up on the NHS website and couldn't give me any other advice other than to tell me not to worry because it's not life threatening and to just try again in a few months with both egg and nuts. I was under the impression that but allergies can be very much life threatening and due to the speed that her face had swollen up was quite concerned. He basically told me that allergy foods shouldn't be introduced until nearer 12 months and when I pointed out the HV had told me 6 months and not to delay it he changed his mind and said 6 months was fine.

I'm now confused and terrified about what her next reaction could be. She literally licked the tiniest bit of peanut butter off some toast and reacted almost instantly

Can anyone offer any advice or anything more reassuring than our GP who didn't appear to have a clue and basically googled it in front of me?

I wonder what made him so sure it's not life threatening?

My DS is allergic to eggs and peanuts. Similar kind of reactions as a baby. I’m in the US so I assume it’s a different process to the Uk, but we had him allergy tested and got epi pens. To be honest the allergy testing was kind of pointless as it just confirmed what I knew - that he is allergic. Ask your GP for an epi pen. And be cautious with introducing other common allergens

We avoid all egg and peanut products. And sesame as he’s also allergic to that. It is a pain. However he has just turned 4 and can now tolerate baked egg so I’m hoping he will grow out of the egg allergy. I have a peanut allergy so I suppose we weren’t hugely surprised.

Ask your HV for a referral to an allergy clinic for testing. And keep asking until you get it. I definitely wouldn't offer again until testing. As i understand it, egg is an allergy some babies grow out of. Peanut is one that gets worse with every exposure- or can do- mine has anyway. And can be -as you know- very serious indeed. My baby pukes with egg and I'm not willing to offer again before she's tested. I have anaphylactic reactions to a variety of things myself- inc. Peanuts so I'm cautious/over cautious myself- I'm not giving her any of my allergens until she's been tested. (I say I'm not- my husband will have to do it if she gets the all clear.
P.s. watch out for sesame too- there's sometimes a cross allergy with peanuts.

It is terrifying me that she could have a serious reaction and the GP was so blasé about it like it was nothing when I know it can be fatal

I asked them about testing and they said they won't do it for a while because of her age and they wouldn't do it until she's older so just to give her the foods again in a few months and bring her in again if she reacts. The doctor I saw this time wouldn't even give anti histamines he literally couldn't have cared less.

Just be warned. I have recently developed a severe allergy to Fairy Wash powder. There was no rash or redness but my skin was prickly and burning and it prevented me from sleeping. If a baby developed such an allergy you would have a baby crying day and night for no apparent reason. It took three days of using other bedding for the pain to go. I now use washing nuts for laundry and have no problems. This whole situation is very worrying but babies can’t talk only cry so bear my experience in mind. I am an ex- healthvisitor.

I have a 9 month old and he has recently had allergy testing through the NHS which confirmed that he is allergic to milk, egg and fish. He is going to have another test in 6 months as he may grow out of the milk and egg. I kept chasing up his appointment as I understand there are fairly long waiting lists. He doesn’t have an epi pen but the allergy clinic gave him some antihistamines which they said were more effective than the ones the GP prescribed when he had his egg reaction.

You definitely need a referral to an allergist. The GP was appalling to be so blase!

I would look for a federal to a dietician immediately. By eliminating a food for 6 months allergies can develop or worsen so that is awful advice. My DD has cow's milk protein allergy which I am currently reintroducing under the guidance of a dietician. She also reacted to salmon in the way your daughter did, red face and rash. Definitely not life threatening and as I don't eat myself we are just going to leave her and not give it again but egg and peanut butter I'd be looking for an allergy test and a referral

How am I going to get this sorted if the GP clearly doesn't give a shit and said they won't do anything at her age?

I would go to your health visitor and explain the situation and the GP's response. They have the power to refer for some things. E.g. they referred my son to a dietician and we were seen within a fortnight. I don't know if they can fast track an allergy appointment but they can definitely give you advice on your next step as they know the system.

Alternatively, call the doctors again and ask to see a different GP. Explain situation and state that you want an urgent referral to see an allergist. If they say no, tell them you are already in the process of putting in a formal complaint for the first GP's negligence and that potentially life-thrlife-threatening allergies need to be taken seriously. I hate throwing my weight around like that but it's the only way I have managed to get my son seen to.

Final option if you can afford it is a private allergist. The top ones are often £250-400 for an initial consultation though. Plus extra for skin prick testing.

Good luck!

Thank you I will take her to the HV clinic and see if we have anymore luck there. I've a feeling they won't do anything until we've tried again like both the doctors we've seen have instructed. I don't actually want to try again though just thinking about it terrifies me.

Just a little update in case anyone ever has similar issues..

I took her to see the HV who totally disagreed with the doctor and got advice from the dietician who stated she needed referring for allergy testing so she's been referred.

It's a shame you clearly can't always take the doctors word for these things but we got there in the end