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Original poster

Could this be a peanut allergy?!

17 replies

sianac · 05/08/2024 10:36

Hi,

My L/O is 8 months old and she had a small amount of peanut butter on Friday with no reaction. As she had no reaction I gave her peanut butter on toast and then noticed these hives pop up on both her legs 1.5 hours after eating. Hot too touch and lasted around 3 hours. We called for medical advice but by the time they got back to us the rash and hives had completely gone.

Just wondering if anyone has any experience of a reaction like this, or can offer advice on whether it is likely to be peanuts? She had nothing else new.

thanks!

Could this be a peanut allergy?!
Could this be a peanut allergy?!
OP posts:
DanceTheDevilBackIntoHisHole · 05/08/2024 10:38

It does look like an allergic rash but obviously hard to tell the trigger. While it's not uncommon to get hives elsewhere too, was there anything around her face or mouth?

Whatacarrion · 05/08/2024 11:01

A peanut reaction would not take an hour and a half to make itself known.

The hives can be anywhere but they show up pretty fast.

It could still be an allergic reaction but I don't think it was to the peanuts.

Roarasaurus · 05/08/2024 11:08

My 1 yo dc had an almost immediate reaction to a small amount of peanut butter a few weeks ago, within 3 minutes. Rash/hives on the face and sneezing, runny eyes. Probably not the peanuts, perhaps something else?

Original poster
sianac · 05/08/2024 11:17

DanceTheDevilBackIntoHisHole · 05/08/2024 10:38

It does look like an allergic rash but obviously hard to tell the trigger. While it's not uncommon to get hives elsewhere too, was there anything around her face or mouth?

No, no hives anywhere else but her two legs, but she was coughing! I did a bit of research and it said a reaction can take up to 2 hours to come out, I would have thought it would have been immediate!

OP posts:
Original poster
sianac · 05/08/2024 11:18

Whatacarrion · 05/08/2024 11:01

A peanut reaction would not take an hour and a half to make itself known.

The hives can be anywhere but they show up pretty fast.

It could still be an allergic reaction but I don't think it was to the peanuts.

Thanks! I thought a reaction would be immediate too but after doing some research it says the initial can take up to two hours to come out and often get quicker each time! Hoping it isn’t but I guess I will just have to test it again (just not yet).

OP posts:
DanceTheDevilBackIntoHisHole · 05/08/2024 11:20

More usually immediate but can sometimes take time and coughing could be a sign of some impact on throat, mouth or lungs. So hard at this age when they can't communicate.

Why don't you give someone like the Anaphylaxis Campaign a call? They have a helpline and may be able to talk it through with you. Either way, some kind of allergy looks likely so a trip to the GP is probably a good idea.

exprecis · 05/08/2024 11:20

It definitely could be a reaction to peanuts.

Reactions vary a lot - some people can have reactions 24 hours later even.

My DS reacts like clockwork 45 mins later to exposure

Original poster
sianac · 05/08/2024 11:25

DanceTheDevilBackIntoHisHole · 05/08/2024 11:20

More usually immediate but can sometimes take time and coughing could be a sign of some impact on throat, mouth or lungs. So hard at this age when they can't communicate.

Why don't you give someone like the Anaphylaxis Campaign a call? They have a helpline and may be able to talk it through with you. Either way, some kind of allergy looks likely so a trip to the GP is probably a good idea.

That’s a good idea - thank you, I hadn’t heard of this before, so will definitely give them a call. We did contact our GP but they weren’t great and didn’t want to see her in person.

OP posts:
gleefulstar · 05/08/2024 11:50

My DD ate a cashew nut once and the reaction was almost immediate in her mouth. The rash/hives took about 20-30 mins to start. And her face swelled up, puffy eyes lips etc.

We were told that anything that didn't affect her mouth first was unlikely to be caused by something she'd eaten. I'm not sure I believe this though. My DF is allergic to tinned kidneys (of all things!!). They don't affect his mouth but he gets a rash going all the way down his legs. It's rapid, he can literally see it working its way down!

savoycabbage · 05/08/2024 11:52

It's a good idea to phone the anaphylaxis campaign. The problem with allergy information is that it can change with research so you have to make sure what you are reading is from a proper source and that it's up to date.

According to the anaphylaxis campaign, peanut allergies happen within a few minutes.

www.anaphylaxis.org.uk/fact-sheet/peanut-and-tree-nut-allergy/

fruitpastille · 05/08/2024 11:53

Don't test it yourself especially if there was coughing. Ask to be referred for a skin prick test (show your photos) and avoid nuts for now would be my advice.

fruitpastille · 05/08/2024 11:59

You could also get some antihistamine to have in just in case it happens again. Cetirizine - ask the pharmacist.

exprecis · 05/08/2024 12:00

gleefulstar · 05/08/2024 11:50

My DD ate a cashew nut once and the reaction was almost immediate in her mouth. The rash/hives took about 20-30 mins to start. And her face swelled up, puffy eyes lips etc.

We were told that anything that didn't affect her mouth first was unlikely to be caused by something she'd eaten. I'm not sure I believe this though. My DF is allergic to tinned kidneys (of all things!!). They don't affect his mouth but he gets a rash going all the way down his legs. It's rapid, he can literally see it working its way down!

You're right not to believe it

One of my DS's allergies was a rash on his tummy - diagnosed by a good allergy consultant.

The truth is that allergic reactions can vary considerably

skkyelark · 05/08/2024 12:07

Definitely be cautious and get further medical advice, but – having been through it with DD2 – it turns out quite a lot of cases of hives aren't caused by allergies, and if it's not an allergy, they are often just a one-off.

So if she tests negative for a peanut allergy, it may just be one of those things, and hopefully you'll never see them again.

On the flip side, if it happens again, I'd have a low threshold for taking to A&E (again, been there with DD2) – definitely at any signs of swelling. Also see if you can get any suitable antihistamines, but a lot aren't recommended this young. The pharmacist should know what she can have. I'd bring the photos to back me up.

RogueRascal · 05/08/2024 12:19

We are under a dietician for an egg allergy, the first time my DS had it he was fine, the second time a rash and the third time hives. Apparently this is a normal progression with allergies and we have to wait 6 months before carefully reintriducing it. If in doubt speak to your health visitor for a referral

Neodymium · 05/08/2024 12:36

They can do a blood test to determine anaphylaxis. My son did that, he had the blood test confirmed he had it but not what to, and got a epipen. Then we had to wait ages to see the allergist to get skin prick testing done. Turned out to be raw egg, peanuts and dust.

Original poster
sianac · 05/08/2024 15:31

Thanks for your advice everyone. We’re not convinced it’s peanuts now as it come up again suddenly today but worse, and she hadn’t had any peanuts or anything else new! The pharmacy wouldn’t prescribe any antihistamines so I got back onto our doctors and they’ve agreed to see her now. It’s really strange as it come up worse than yesterdays pics, but then disappeared again and then came up again!

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