Terrified about baby’s peanut allergy

[Peanutbutteryday]

Weaning 6 month baby and he came out in a rash around one eye following me giving him a tiny bit of peanut butter mixed with water. Although a mild reaction I’ve obviously booked a GP appointment for Friday but terrified this is going to end up being a real peanut allergy. I’ve read a first mild reaction doesn’t always mean it’ll stay mild….DC also has bad excema .

Any real life experiences?

I have a very severe peanut allergy (Anaphylaxis).

Reading labels becomes second nature, and I have been very happily reaction free for many years now.
It means you need to be careful only, it is not the end of life as you know it. Please don’t panic.

is there a family history of allergy? It might be worth getting him tested. My DC have outgrown most allergies they had when very little now, so it may not last for ever even if he is allergic now.

Honestly, I know this isn’t what you want to hear, but take it seriously. Don’t listen to talk of “mild allergies” - any allergy can result in a very serious reaction. You’re doing the right thing for your baby ❤️

I hope the GP is helpful for you OP. There are big developments being made in treating allergies but they’re a big commitment and I’m not sure how widely available they are in the UK/on the NHS.

Did he touch his eye with the peanut butter? Are you sure it was a result of the peanut butter?

Did you know that allergies aren’t likely to cause a reaction with first time contact. It’s will
be a subsequent contact that triggers a reaction.

given you probably fed him through his mouth and not his eyes, it could well be a coincidence. That said, best to have it checked out.

many many people have peanut allergies, some worse than others but mostly all manageable. I’d try not to panic yourself about it too much or you’ll risk giving yourself health anxiety about allergic reactions 🫶

Also this, there isn’t really such a thing as ‘mild allergies’ you’re either allergic to something or you aren’t. You can be intolerate, or irritant to something… but being allergic to something is serious.

My ds (16yo) has a peanut allergy, diagnosed when she was about 18 months. Obviously it's not ideal, but it's totally manageable. You just become very good at checking food labels.

Because peanut allergy is the one everyone knows about I've found that people generally tend to take it very seriously and are careful.

Thanks everyone and I know I probably sound like I am in panic mode (I guess I am) but no one in my family has any history of allergies so it’s a very new thing for me. There is a history on my husbands side

@TeaAndSymumthy i wondered if coincidence too as he has had reactions randomly due to excema but I think prob not a coincidence. I am trying to remember if he touched the spoon then eye. Possibly he did as he loves to grab the spoon during weaning.

@TeaAndSymumthy and @TurtleGroove re mild reactions, agree I have read this re no such thing as mild reaction hence worrying. When he initially had the itchy eye I was relaxed as naively I thought it was mild. Since reading up this evening I realise I was wrong. Anyway gp app booked.

I hope the gp is helpful. Do you think realistic for him to be tested for an allergy at this stage or given an EpiPen or histamine for just in case situations or is this over kill. Appreciate I may sound bonkers.

also lol just realised my username has PB in!!! It’s from years ago. What a coincidence

Just wanted to add another voice dispelling the ‘mild’ peanut/nut allergy myth.
My ds is allergic to all tree nuts & peanuts, I’d be happy for you to dm me if your ds is diagnosed and you want to chat op!

I think you need to be prepared to push at the GP, an even then may not get what you’re wanting re allergy testing.
My DH has anaphylactic allergies to several things so there is a family history making allergies more likely, and when weaning DD2 she kept coming out in hives. GP didn’t really care but I kept going back so they did refer me to the allergy clinic who rejected the referral.

My dgd was diagnosed with a peanut allergy about a year ago at 1 year 6 months and has received good care at a and e, the ward and outpatients and nursery. Epipen carried at all times. The frustrating but understandable thing is on food packaging where it 'made in a factory that may contain nuts'. It is manageable but yes worrying so good luck to him.

Ask for a referral for allergy testing, ask for antihistamine and epipen prescriptions in the meantime. You may not get the epipen, often you need anaphylaxis first or certain risk factors which is mad...)

Peanut is the easiest of my kids allergies, treatments are also developing quickly but one step at a time

Look into immunotherapy. The sooner it is started, better chance of completely outgrowing the allergy.

As he has eczema, he is at high risk for food allergies. Introduce the common allergens asap, and keep them in his diet reguarly.

Be very careful of touching his skin with food, or unwashed hands, as the latest theory is that this is what starts the allergy.

DD was diagnosed with a peanut allergy. She had a bad response to eating peanut butter at 6 months old. We had to wait until 12 months for allergy testing. DD underwent introduction therapy at the local hospital and outgrew her peanut allergy and her loose cooked egg allergy by 4. She now carries epipens for her allergy to walnuts and pecans. She is sensitive to hazelnuts. DD also has asthma, mild eczema and hay fever… when she has hay fever she gets oral allergy syndrome and cannot eat apples.

DD is 9 and is good at reading labels and asking adults whether it is safe for her to eat food items.