Gave DD peanut butter

Our ped said at 18 months we could try peanut butter with our twins, so this morning, they both got a small taste. Within 5 minutes, DD broke out in itchy hives around her mouth, cheeks, and the back of her neck. I called the pediatrician, and they said to give her Benadryl. However, the nurse wouldn't really give me much info since the twins go in for their 18 month checkup next week. She said the DR would talk to me then about it.

So...anyone else have a child with a peanut allergy? Does this mean that any exposure to peanuts would ONLY result in hives, or could subsequent exposures yield worse reactions? My brother has a peanut allergy so I grew up around it, but I really never thought one of our kids would have one. I am sure she has had foods that have peanut byproducts in them...so is that a good sign that this may only be a minor allergy? The hives had to come from the peanut butter; it happened so quickly and she had nothing else out of the ordinary.

Really, it's scaring me a bit. Peanut butter is a staple in my diet and my older daughter, husband too, love it! I am also contemplating the impact on her in the future. My brother was never "sequestered" because of his allergy, but I know many elementary schools have kids with peanut allergies in separate locations for lunch, for example.

Anyhow, sorry for the rambling, but it bothered me that I didn't get more information from the ped this morning.
Thanks in advance!!
Beth

 

Beth, I'm glad it wasn't a more serious reaction. :hug: Sorry the nurse wouldn't talk to you more about it, even if you do have an appointment next week, you are concerned right now.

 

Beth, my Piper has a peanut allergy and here's what I've learned. Peanut allergy symptoms can get worse with each exposure. So if your daughter had hives this time, she could have a more dangerous reaction next time. Peanut allergies can also change (get better or worse) over time. The only way to track this is through blood allergy testing. Some children outgrow peanut allergies but most do not. In general, if a child is diagnosed with a peanut allergy, it doesn't matter if it's mild or severe, you still need to avoid ALL peanuts, even things with traces of peanuts. Some allergists will tell you to avoid foods processed on equipment that also processes peanuts, some will say to also avoid things processed in facilities that also handle peanuts.

You will probably have to carry an Epi-pen for your daughter. This, to me, has been the biggest pain. Piper isn't in school yet so we haven't had to deal with any potential segregation; I'm not looking forward to it when/if it happens.

I love peanut butter myself, but we now have no peanut products in our house just in case. And we now read food labels religiously, and tell every waitress that we have a peanut allergy in our party whenever we go to a restaurant. The fact that your daughter had a reaction to full strength peanut butter but not to the traces of peanuts isn't necessarily good or bad. Peanut "toxin" intolerance builds up over the first few exposures. So it's possible that your daughter's body has been reacting to the traces of peanuts enough to give her the antibodies, so the first time that she had peanut butter, she reacted. My daughter Piper reacted to peanut butter the fourth time she had it. Her allergy is considered mild but again, the allergist was honest with me that it doesn't matter... a mild allergy can still kill you. (sorry, no other way to put it)

But hang in there... a peanut allergy isn't nearly as altering as I feared. We carry an Epi pen, we no longer have peanut butter in the house, and we remember to tell people and ask if there's peanuts in things. And so far that's been about it.

 

Tricia,
I kind of figured this was the road we were heading down. *SIGH* There's always something to worry about it, I guess.
Anyone else? I would really appreciate more input!

 

PP pretty much summed it up.
My DS1 reacted similar to your DD at almost 2. He tested positive to a bunch of allergins and with each year his level to peanut goes up significantly.
The MD says there is no way to predict the severity of the next reaction. he also said "never give your child a baked good you didn't make in your own kitchen"

It was definitely scary and overwhelming at first. The book - Food Allergies for Dummies by Dr. Wood is great. Dr. Wood is one of the nations top allergist and has peanut allergy himself so it is an interesting perspective.

My pedi sent us for bloodwork and based on those results went to a pediatric allergist. We only see him once a year - go back next week actually. He basically says we are just waiting for the research to figure out the next step. There have been encouraging results lately with food challenges - very small amounts in a medical setting.

I think the most difficult thing is other people just don't get the seriousness of it so you may be at someones house or a party and they serve PB&J and you have to watch your kid like a hawk so they don't inadvertently touch PB. I am sure I would be out of tune with food allergies if my child doesn't have one. You learn to pack the epi-pen, teach those who care for her how to use it and also have safe snacks with you.

Hang in there

 

Oh no I so was hoping for better responses! I gave my DS pb&j at least 10 times in the last month, and a week ago or so his lips blew up! We had also been at a restaurant earlier that day and I gave him eggs, which I think he has a reaction to before...but it seemed like he was over it...anyway, it did happen really quick after he was eating his sandwich...
I gave him benadryl and a couple hours everything was okay.

I was REALLY hoping this would be a temporary thing. We have no history of peanut allergy in our family.
This sucks!

 

I had a friend whose son, on his 2nd exposure to peanut butter had to be rushed to the ER. Luckily it can be outgrown. :hug: I hope that is the case for you. Glad he's ok.

 

I don't have experience with peanut allergies yet...I just wanted to offer big :hug: to you and your DS. I am glad he is okay and I am sorry the doctor's office would not give you more info!

 

My DD is allergic to egg whites, and she had a reaction on her first exposure (and the egg was cooked in pancakes). But I have done a tone of research and have discovered that reactions can get worse over time, and tend to with the "big allergies" - which are peanuts, shell-fish and a few others. So those are the really serious ones that you really have to diligent and careful about, because they can lead to life-threatening consequences. So, yes you need to start reading labels very carefully, no baked goods (unless you made them), and carrying an epi-pen (I suggest having several of them - diaper bag, car, purse, baby-sitters house etc). The good thing is that there are many more people now with peanut allergies, so there are many new products (granola bars, snacks, etc) coming onto the market that say specifically that they are peanut-free.

I never give my daughter any baked goods (as they will all have eggs in them) and so I do a little more baking at home now. I also have to watch like a HAWK when we go to someone else's house because they always have baked goods out, and my DD picks things up off the floor and eats them (Ugh), and people aren't very careful with their childrens food. So it is a bit of a pain, but we have just gotten used to it now, and I always carry around "safe" snacks for my kiddos.

Some kids outgrown allergies - so we can always hope! big hugs to you!

 

I think my concern is that your child should have an epi-pen NOW. Peanut is an allergy that most kids do not grow out of so I'd think I'd prepare for that. (sorry) my bf has a son with a peanut allergy and milk. She was able to get a demonstation pen which is great when you need to show a babysitter or teacher or later on your child how to use it. There are epi-pen packs that they can carry around their waist. The expire dates need to be checked and if one is due to expire .... get yourself a full tissue box and inject the pen. It really gives you an idea what it would feel like to use it since it has a real powerful force to it. Have your husband or other babysitting relatives have this opportunity as well as each pen expires.

Watch out for restaurants with the shells on the floor. Empty out your cupboards and maybe look for a alternative for your daughter. Flavoured cream cheese on a wrap, try the various dips out there. I remember my friend had her son go to someone's house for lunch and she asked if a Jam sandwich would be ok.... my friend called back after she realized that often you make pb and jam sandwiches and the jam might be contaminated.

Sorry to add panick and worry. I think it sort of consumes you in the beginning and then you eventually grow to deal with it.

You are strong enough to deal with this .... you are a twin mom.

Heather

 

We are dealing with this as well. Ellie is allergic to dairy, eggs, peanuts and some fish. It's a pain at first, but we are getting use to it. She isn't allergic to tree nuts, so I got almond butter, but I'm not 100% sure she didn't have a reaction to it. My allergist told me that as long as eggs were baked into something, she could have them. I guess the protein breaks down differently. Who knows? The dairy allergy has been the hardest. We have an Epi-pen and Benadryl with us at all times too.

 

:hug: to everyone who is going thru this. My best friend growing up had a severe peanut allergy and it was something she had to be diligient about. But even at 5 or 6 I remember her telling people who she could and could not eat. It was just her normal. :hug:

 

My DS has a wheat allergy & it was a big pain to get used to at first. We've made DD wheat-free too because it's easier. I hope that your child outgrows her allergy though. Hugs to you!