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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]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. [b] 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.  [/b]

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!
[/quote]

[b]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[/b].[/quote]

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.[/quote]

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