Managing peanut allergy

[Anonymous]

DD (6) is allergic to peanuts but not severely so. She's had a handful of accidental exposures where she got an itchy rash on her mouth but hasn't experienced anaphylaxis before. I don't worry about it too much other than making sure she doesn't eat anything with peanuts (i.e. cross contamination hasn't been an issue). Even so, I'm aware that you can randomly get a worse reaction with a future exposure, so I'm wondering if I need to be more vigilant, especially as she's getting to the age of doing drop off playdates or carpooling, etc. I tell other parents about the allergy but otherwise don't make a big deal about it. DD knows how to ask about ingredients if she's not sure. We don't carry an Epi-pen around.

Any parents in a similar situation and have thoughts? I'm wondering if I need to be more cautious.

I've also thought about doing OIT, but it honestly just seems like a lot of work. So far, peanut avoidance has worked fine for us, so I'm hoping it's something she can simply avoid, but maybe I'm being naive...

[Anonymous]

Carry an EpiPen and talk to the parents.

[Anonymous]

What does her allergist say?

If the answer is that she doesn’t have one then yes, you need to take this more seriously.

[Anonymous]

Absolutely she should have an EpiPen with her! You never know if the allergy will become more intense until ... it does. If I had a kid over who had an allergic reaction I'd have my kid call 911 on speaker phone while I was jabbing the kid with the Epi pen to save her life.

Every parent hopes their kid will grow out of it, but every smart parent with a kid who has a peanut allergy has their kid have an Epi pen close by until then!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What does her allergist say?

If the answer is that she doesn’t have one then yes, you need to take this more seriously.

Don't worry, she has an allergist and we have an epi-pen at home and school, but I don't carry it around everywhere (or have her carry it around). I don't remember the allergist saying specifically to bring it everywhere, but I guess that would make sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does her allergist say?

If the answer is that she doesn’t have one then yes, you need to take this more seriously.

Don't worry, she has an allergist and we have an epi-pen at home and school, but I don't carry it around everywhere (or have her carry it around). I don't remember the allergist saying specifically to bring it everywhere, but I guess that would make sense.

Why do you think the allergist gave you the EpiPen? It’s not going to help you if she has an anaphylactic reaction at a birthday and the EpiPen is at home.

Honestly while OIT may be work it seems like it might be a good idea for your daughter if you’re not willing to carry life saving medicine for her.

[Anonymous]

Of course you carry the EpiPen everywhere. You pay to replace it, hoping it expires in the drawer. You tell every play date, coach, and teacher she has a peanut allergy. Until your allergist tells you otherwise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does her allergist say?

If the answer is that she doesn’t have one then yes, you need to take this more seriously.

Don't worry, she has an allergist and we have an epi-pen at home and school, but I don't carry it around everywhere (or have her carry it around). I don't remember the allergist saying specifically to bring it everywhere, but I guess that would make sense.

The allergist prescribed you an EpiPen and you don’t carry it? You let her go on play dates without it?

And you think we should worry less after reading that?

[Anonymous]

I am sorry but you are being careless with your DD's life. She could go into anaphylaxis so not carrying epipens everywhere you go and training her how to use them is a gamble you don't want to take. A friend tragically lost her 9yo this way.

[Anonymous]

Do you know when to use the EpiPen? Anytime there are two symptoms. And of course carry it everywhere.

[Anonymous]

You need to carry at least two Epi pens everywhere, in case one malfunctions or the ambulance is delayed in coming. As soon as the child is able they need to carry two themselves. Be sure they know how to use them. Practice regularly with the trainer.

We always also have albuterol and Benadryl.

Ask the allergist when to use. One PP said use upon two symptoms. Ours said use upon confirmed exposure even if asymptomatic.

If you use epinephrine the person needs to go by ambulance to the emergency room.

Epi pens are not magic talismans. They don’t always work. They sometimes need to be repeated.

Your child needs to learn to self-advocate about allergies as soon as possible. Teach them to read every label every time. Ingredients change. No unlabeled or homemade outside snacks. Send your own treats to school. Be very particular in restaurants. Be aware of potential language issues — we were assured that a bakery product contained no nuts. Then informed “only nut flour” when we asked a second time.

They need to be aware of environmental contamination. Like the kid in class who brings a peanut butter sandwich and then uses a finger to scrape out and eat the peanut butter. Or the contaminated trash in a cafeteria trash can. Or the person one row away in an aircraft who is eating peanuts.

I believe there is a sensitivity-reducing shot and desensitization treatments. We are not there yet, so I leave it to others with knowledge to discuss them.

[Anonymous]

Adding: as for school, you need to have epi pens on the child’s person as soon as they can handle it. Schools vary widely on the seriousness with which they treat life-threatening allergies, and in the willingness of personnel to give epinephrine. Typically your child’s life-saving medication will be locked up in a nurse’s office somewhere. How long will it take someone to get the child to the medicine or the medicine to the child?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Adding: as for school, you need to have epi pens on the child’s person as soon as they can handle it. Schools vary widely on the seriousness with which they treat life-threatening allergies, and in the willingness of personnel to give epinephrine. Typically your child’s life-saving medication will be locked up in a nurse’s office somewhere. How long will it take someone to get the child to the medicine or the medicine to the child?

Also, the teacher can’t leave the rest of the class. She has to call for help. The other adult has to answer the call. Your DD needs to carry an EpiPen, so she can get the first shot right away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you know when to use the EpiPen? Anytime there are two symptoms. And of course carry it everywhere.

This. And you may not be aware of an exposure. Also, kids with anaphylactic reactions to one often develop reactions to other things over time. Not all..but many do. That is why you treat every time there are more than two symptoms even if you don’t think peanuts have been touched.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does her allergist say?

If the answer is that she doesn’t have one then yes, you need to take this more seriously.

Don't worry, she has an allergist and we have an epi-pen at home and school, but I don't carry it around everywhere (or have her carry it around). I don't remember the allergist saying specifically to bring it everywhere, but I guess that would make sense.

You should.