what next when you have a potential food allergy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree with all these other allergy moms.

My 15 mo old has allergies to treenuts, peanuts, and sesame. It's not too early for skin tests/blood work.

We also love the Insitute of Allergy and Asthma.

I wouldn't panic, but watch foods and avoid any questionable foods in the interim. Keep Benadryl on hand.

+1 from one of the PPs. We see Dr. Scarupa there, and he's outstanding: excellent bedside manner and aware of the latest science. Really great physician.

[Anonymous]

OP here - wanted to provide an update.

I followed at the Institute for Asthma and Allergy, and am very glad I did. We did some testing and DD is allergic to eggs, not strawberries. I got a prescription for an epipen and we have a plan for how to deal if DD accidentally gets exposed again. I have also scheduled a food test with them to find out if she can eat eggs in baked goods (muffins, cake, etc) or not. The doctor explained kids often grow out of egg allergies, so I am hopeful that happens in DDs case.

Many, many thanks for all of your advice and recommendations!

[Anonymous]

My son was tested for food allergies when he was 9 mos. He was breaking out in hives a lot (since birth). It was a blood draw, not prick test, so not so bad. I wonder why your Pediatrician thinks it's too early. I would get her tested now.

[Anonymous]

Hi OP - I'm sorry to hear about the egg allergy. My son is 3 and is also allergic to eggs and can't have baked egg (bummer). It's manageable, though, and hopefully he'll grow out of it. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - wanted to provide an update.

I followed at the Institute for Asthma and Allergy, and am very glad I did. We did some testing and DD is allergic to eggs, not strawberries. I got a prescription for an epipen and we have a plan for how to deal if DD accidentally gets exposed again. I have also scheduled a food test with them to find out if she can eat eggs in baked goods (muffins, cake, etc) or not. The doctor explained kids often grow out of egg allergies, so I am hopeful that happens in DDs case.

Many, many thanks for all of your advice and recommendations!

My son was diagnosed with an egg allergy at about 9 months. He can tolerate not only baked egg as in muffins, but also pancakes, waffles, and even baked French toast. Hoping to try hard boiled eggs soon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - thanks for all the advice. I will push back on my pediatrician again about testing.

To give some more information, DD's lips were *hugely* swollen - maybe 20+ times their normal size - she looked cartoon-ish. I was very concerned that her throat was also swelling up that much which is why I was inclined to go to the ER. I also paged my pediatrician and he told me about the benadryl and to then go to the ER. The benadryl kicked in immediately and by the time we got to the ER she was still really swollen but it was clearly getting better. ER doctor told me I only need to come the next time if she is having breathing problems, so lesson learned about when we need to go.

Also, strawberries were from same bag as she had been having all week (we do freeze dried fruit as "dessert") so unlikely it was a bad batch. I appreciate the tip about the sulfides - the ingredients on the package don't include anything but strawberries and it says it has no preservatives, but I will call the company to ask if the freeze-drying process involves some sort of chemical that isn't listed.

We have already introduced peanut butter, eggs, fish, etc, but I will watch closely the next time she has these, especially peanut butter.

Again, I appreciate your advice!

ER doctor is wrong.

Lip and mouth swelling as you describe is ER worthy.

So is a full body reaction without wheezing.

So is projectile vomiting along with any mouth/throat reaction.

In those cases, epi immediately, then ER.

If you wait to go to the ER until breathing issues develop, then you might be too late.

Go to an allergist OP. ER doc does not sound like he is informed.

So, so, correct - 1,000

I have an anaphylactic allergic reaction to tree nuts. I've lived this all my life - I'm in my 50s now. After the Florida boys' death there was lots of action on the Facebook allergy pages I participate in about not all allergists being good at explaining WHAT to do and WHEN (to benedryl or not? to epipen or not? To do one or the other or both or.....)

And believe me, ER docs are NOT all well trained in allergies. Not all pediatricians are. Even not all allergists are. (now THAT is shocking to me).

So go to a pediatric allergist. Have him/her tell you whether to do blood tests. Discuss what the reaction was, what to do next time, what to do if....

SOME children can have benedryl for SOME reactions while for OTHER reactions those same children should use an epipen.
SOME children should get an epipen first, period, never give benedryl. (that's me!)
SOME children can have benedryl for ALL reactions so far

And so it goes.

benedryl can mask that more symptoms are coming and make it too late to use the epipen (especially since it makes some kids sleepy and then you put them to bed and miss the breathing stuff). So sometimes people are using zyrtec instead of benedryl. Others, like myself, don't use benedryl, I go right to epipen because of my history of symptoms.

I think we need to all understand that food allergies can show up differently in each person - so if you know one person with food allergies, you know one person with food allergies. I direct a preschool and I've had 5-6 different food allergic children over my many years and they all have had different types of reactions, are allergic to different things, some worry about cross contamination while others don't, etc. etc.

IF your child needs an epipen: Using an epipen is overwhelming at first - until I train you with a trainer, then you'll be fine, it's really really really easy. I promise you. 3 easy peasy steps. Your allergist will train you, and your prescription for an epipen should come with a trainer (have your allergist write the prescription to get a trainer if that's necessary, not sure). Practice using the trainer. About 7-10 times every day for 3 days in a row until it's so boring, so ho hum, whatever, to use it. You and your partner need to do this. Practice doing it on yourself. Then practice doing it on your child - given your child is a baby, you could use a large stuffed animal as a stand in for your child.