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EAT => Food Allergies => Topic started by: Mom to M&M on September 13, 2010, 00:52:05 am
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Suspecting a tree nut allergy in my 15 month old... Am I crazy? Lately he's been getting hives a LOT on his face. Mainly by his eyes and mouth. And they seem to correlate with an increase in frequent mushy BMs and diaper rash. And sleep problems (last night he was up very unsettled from 12:30-3). Why suspect nut allergy? Well he's addicted to playing with acorns (we haven't let him handle any now since Friday) and the hives seemed to pop up shortly thereafter. AND last week after two days in a row of eating Clif Z bars (which claim they may contain trace amounts of tree nuts) he was up at night screaming and having massive BMs.
My niece (DH's sister's first daughter) is epi-pen allergic to both peanuts and tree nuts and my brother is allergic to tree nuts as well.
Thoughts? Should I push to have him allergy tested? I eat a fair amount of nuts myself, as does my DD. I need to have bloodwork done for him anyway - never did his iron or lead testing at one year...
Also, how long would it likely take for the symptoms, if nuts are the offender, to stop? He hasn't played with acorns nor eaten anything with nuts or even trace amounts for over 48 hours now. He finally did not poop today and the hives look less angry. HOPING he sleeps tonight...
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Hey Karen!! I'm gonna say that there is a good possibility of allergy. No clue how/when nut allergy testing is done, but if it can be done with blood, go for it. I checked Zyrtec and Claritin. Both are for age 2 and up. The Benadryl dose is 6.25mg for your little guy's age. Then you get to weigh hives vs maybe having a wired kidlet. Do the hives bug him?
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Testing would depend on the Dr. or allergist you see...ours only does testing for known reactions and did skin prick testing first and then blood tests. Both were negative, but she still failed a food challenge, so we have to avoid for now. She was just over 18 months when they did the tests, but I've heard of kids as young as 10 months getting tested.
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Thanks guys! Jenn - the hives don't seem to bug him but the correlating NWs (we are guessing from stomachache) do. At least last night was better. Restless from 11:30-12:30 but otherwise slept and no screaming. Will call doctor today...
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Hi there,
I'm pretty sure in the US they will be able to do tree nut testing at his age. Sounds like a wtrong possiblility for it. Wouldn't hurt to err on the side of caution and assume that is what is going on for the time being.
Were you able to get an appointment?
Let us know how things progress! :-*
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Tried to reach Ped today but we played phone tag. Will make sure to reach him tomorrow. Really thinking something is up - was trying to be super careful today but while shopping at Whole Foods he was hungry and crying and not wanting the snacks I'd brought. So after reading the ingredients i bought him a scone from the bins there. Ingredients listed said nothing about nuts BUT shortly thereafter he got hives by his right eye. And took a shorter than expected nap and was crying 30 minutes after going to bed. Sigh... Maybe the whole trace amounts thing? Or something else?
Talked to my brother tonight and he clarified that he tested positive to tree nuts, inconclusive to peanuts (meanwhile my niece is anaphylactic to peanuts and pretty severely allergic to tree nuts too). He said his main symptom is crippling stomach pains. He also gets an itchy throat as a warning sign.
My poor little man...
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Oh gosh, poor little guy. ((((( hugs )))))) to both of you!
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Thanks. He was moaning/crying again for a few minutes 3 hours later. I have Benadryl by my bedside in case...
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So I did talk to my Ped this morning and he was concerned and wanted me to see an allergist ASAP - he recommended one in particular. I called right away and got lucky - there is a cancellation for this Thursday afternoon. I'll have to juggle some things with regards to DD (someone else to pick her up at the bus in the afternoon for example) but we'll make it work. What should I expect at the appointment? They did warn me that it CAN take up to 2-3 hours for the first visit and not to give Benadryl (or any antihistamine) for at least 3 days prior.
Dreading the appt and how upset DS will be (plus DH is away for work until Friday morning) but glad to be able to maybe get some answers soon...
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Good luck for his appointment! Hoping you find out some answers!
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Good luck, Hun! I have no idea what the experience will be like, but I really hope that you can get some answers. Maybe it isn't the nuts at all (although it does sound like a likely culprit) but rather a common ingredient in the scone and the bars. Hopefully you will find out soon!
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That's great news about the Thursday appointment!
Since they are telling you to stay away from antihistimines I would think they intend to do a scratch test, a little pinprick with the offending food. They may also want to draw blood.
Good luck!
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Hope you get the answers you need!
Good luck in the meantime until Thusrday!
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Thanks guys... Will keep everyone posted. In the meantime, today was the first day in a while with no new hives or explosive diapers. Also the first day in a while that I know for a fact that he ate nothing with nuts or trace amounts or even made on a factory with nuts. And this morning at the park I was kicking acorns away so he couldn't try to grab them LOL. Hoping we all get some sleep tonight and down to the bottom of this soon.
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Just venting here... Though was super careful the last few days. And after my last post above on Tuesday he did sleep well that night. Yesterday he ate:
B: strawberries and mini bagel with cream cheese
L: homemade turkey patty with zucchini and carrots, applesauce, homemade granola bar (I made it from a nut free recipe)
S: goldfish crackers, blueberries
D: pizza, cantaloupe
So I thought totally safe. But then he was up from 11:45-2am. Off/on crying/moaning, etc. I never had to go in but was of course awake the whole time. Then he slept till 7:20 this morning. When I go in to get him I see his face has a LOT of hives and there is also one on his wrist. WTF? The pizza? He's always been fine with milk, cheese, etc. ARGH. Thank goodness allergist is today.
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(((((hugs)))))) how strange! I wonder if there was so type of residue on his sheets or pjs or something? The wakefulness could be explained away, but the hives are baffling.
Perfect timing for the allergist.
Keep us updated!
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I've wondered the same but it happens some times when we've been out midday too and I'd think his whole body would be covered if residue? really don't know. I did used to explain away the wakefulness but it does seem tied to the hives - I'm guessing he's also uncomfortable at the same time with his throat or stomach or something? Really don't know. My SIL thinks maybe the pizza could have been cross contaminated with pesto/pine nuts or something but I just don't know. Really hope the allergist gives some answers today... He's napping now and I'm trying to figure out how best to keep him semi-occupied and calm there for what could be up to 2-3 hours later!
BTW the hives were almost gone (at least for now) by 9 am or so...
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So still no answers... All the skin tests showed up negative. At first they weren't sure if there was a very slight reaction to pistachios and pine nuts but then they said no. So the doc said he was 95% sure there is no nut allergy (they also tested for milk, soy, etc and environmental stuff too). For now he said to go ahead and let him play with the acorns if he wants (could just be a contact reaction?) and eat the stuff he wants - because if mild/undetected allergy could actually help him build up a tolerance? And to call him if notice anything different/worse or have more concerns. So I'm glad they didn't find anything but wish I knew what was going on. Argh. And we all need some sleep too.
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Hmm, not super helpful. Well, at least if it is an allergy it is not a serious one...
Sorry Karen, I had hoped for better answers for you.
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So in continued oddness... Yesterday DS was in a FOUL mood all day. Barely eating, hives getting worse through day, lots of smelly poops, BAD diaper rash. Last night he slept horribly, up screaming a few times and actually needing a bottle to finally settle at 3am.
Then this morning it hit me... Sunday night we were at a family burger joint with the kids and friends. DS wasn't eating well and my friend had a leftover pouch of Ella's kitchen puree in her bag. It was pumpkin, sweet potato, apples and blueberries and DS happily devoured it all. BUT, as a baby starting solids I suspected a squash allergy as the few times i tried squash he got rashy and was up screaming at night. Hadn't given him squash or the like since. So I'm guessing he DOES have a squash/pumpkin allergy? But is it odd that it's a rather delayed reaction?
Should I bother calling the allergist about this? He wasn't tested for squash since it's not a common allergen at all. But TBH I didn't love this doctor (though he is very reputable and thought to be very good by some neighbors and our Ped). He had done scratch testing. BTW, my SIL's ped allergist thinks blood tests are better/more reliable at this age. Is it worth calling her doctor for a second opinion? Or just holding off on squash related foods for now?
AND, if he does have a squash allergy, what other foods might I want to avoid?
TIA as always.
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Course this still doesn't explain what he was reacting to (with same symptoms) a couple weeks ago. He hadn't had squash or pumpkin then... He does eat zucchini a fair amount - always has. Could this be a factor?
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Well, you could try eliminating all squash-type foods as well as zuchinni for a while and see if it helps. It is certainly worth noting, and letting your doctor know.
I can't really say if your SIL's doctor is better, but maybe you could go in for a consultation and see if he/she fits your family better?
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Yea Amy I definitely think something is up. The winter squash seems a stronger reaction but he did have zucchini at lunch yesterday (I put grated zucchini in the turkey patties I make) and he was crankier in the afternoon and starting to get a bit hive-y and had another bad night and hives again this morning. Whatever it is seems to be a delayed reaction, that's for sure. I guess I'll call the allergist we already saw this morning and see what he thinks. A friend of mine a few towns over really likes her allergist so maybe I'll use him/her if I need a second opinion - SIL's doc is half an hour away (over a toll bridge and all)...
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Me again... Left message for allergist - don't think he has office hours today. Meanwhile, found online that squash, pumpkin, zucchini are all part of gourd family. So maybe I should eliminate all the foods in that group (including cantaloupe, which he also eats and had yesterday) for now and see if there is any difference?
Gourd (Melon): Casaba; Cantaloupe; Cucumber; Honey Dew; Muskmelon; Persian Melon; Pumpkin; Squash; Vegetable Marrow; Watermelon, Zucchini.
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I would definitely do that, just to see if it helps. Can't hurt!!
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Yes, I would restrict everything in tye pumpkin, squash family as well. And yes a delayed reaction can absolutely happen. That's how it is with my dd2. And it seems like gi symptoms so possibly an intolerance not an allergy, which won't show up on scratch tests or blood tests. They need to do a skin patch test. Where they take a tiny bit of the suspect allergen, put it in a sample and actually tape it to the LOs back for 24/48 hours. Typcially you take readings at 12/24/48 hours to see what welts up. It was almost 100% correct with Gwyneth, and nothing showed up on the blood tests...didn't even do scratch tests, allergist said with her symptoms it wouldn't show up.
Can you ask about patch testing?
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Thanks Tari, I can certainly ask when the allergist calls back. But it seems like BOTH GI symptoms and skin symptoms - with the hives and all? His face gets pretty hive-y (and also a few spots here and there otherwise) and I'm guessing his throat may get itchy since it affects his eating and he starting demanding his bottle?
Of course I'd given him both cantaloupe AND zucchini yesterday before thinking about this today. Sigh. So far today he's had blueberries, banana and raisin toast for breakfast and plan to give him some homemade thai chicken noodle soup for lunch. Also making a new batch of turkey vegetable burgers (with kale, onion and carrots).
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That's exactly how it is with Gwynnie, she gets the hives, rash, on her face along with the GI symptoms ???
It's confusing to me too....
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Thanks again. Guess I'll see what the allergist says but even if he doesn't do skin patch testing just assume either intolerance or allergy and avoid? Does Benadryl help even for an intolerance?
What does Gwyneth react to?
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I would go with your gut if further testing doesn't show anything. It's not always accurate (the testing ), and you are the one that sees the reactions first hand, so yeah, would probably continue avoiding.
Benadryl will help for the hives, but won't help for the GI symptoms unfortunately. That just has to be worked out of their system. :(
What DIDN'T Gwyneth react to!! Lol Seriously, when we did patch testing i think they did 33 samples, and about 29-30 she reacted to, and they were pretty right on. She could only tolerate a few things for a long time. Then her diet started broadening, and the samples with the biggest reactions, milk, tomato and corn, are still a little dicey. She can do trace everything, and cheese, pizza, and just recently it looks like popcorn is ok. Ice cream was a big fail a couple of months ago, so heat milk products are looking ok. Basically straight up cows milk, and tomato.....but tomato is Turing into just a contact reaction (I think), she had huge rash/hives a few weeks ago after smearing herself with marina sauce....but stools were ok. We've been dealing with this for so long (since she was 3 weeks old), that these last remaining mysteries are welcomed over the many many from before. I went with my gut on almost every one and was usually right.
Hang in there!!!
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So she reacted that strongly to the patch testing but negative to any skin prick tests? Wow. Did your "regular" allergist do the skin patch testing?
Where in US are you? NJ here...
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OK so the allergist didn't call back from a phone message on the office line back on the 6th. BUT we totally eliminated all gourd family items (he'd been eating zucchini and cantaloupe regularly, in addition to the occasional pumpkin/squash). Things seemed much better - hives slowly cleared, eating got better, mood improved greatly.
However, yesterday at lunch he had an Earth's Best apple toddler cereal/snack bar. He proceeded to take a slightly shorter nap than usual (though not horrible) and woke very cranky and with a red cheek. Rest of the afternoon was cranky/clingy and he ate poorly at dinner and woke early this morning with some hives on his right cheek/near his right eye. Almost like the more mild reaction from cantaloupe or zucchini (as opposed to the super strong reaction from winter squash or pumpkin). No idea what the culprit could be from the bar. Certainly not apples as he eats apples and applesauce all the time. Guessing one of the fillers/starches? Argh.
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Well, it could be two (or more) allergies. I would continue to cut out those gourd family things, and see if you can get a list of the ingredients for those bars. If they aren't on the wrapper or box (which they should be), then you can call and ask. Then you can start the whole search again, for another culprit. Sucky, but at least you will have a list to start from this time!
Any chance of calling the allergist back? Seems rude to leave a message unreturned for so long...
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Thanks Amy! Yea I have the ingredients from the box of cereal bars. And reading it I just don't know what the culprit is. Nothing from the gourd family so we're looking at something different. And since it's not an immediate reaction IMHO the allergist won't be of help. I guess if it continues with other foods I'll call the person my friend used - maybe I'll like him/her better...
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I would say try this other person for sure. Someone must have a way of detecting more slow acting allergies!