Food allergy? (sorry TMI)

[Vicku]

DD turned 2yo in Sep. She has bad ecsema around her mouth and has had for over a month now. We've been putting moisturising cream on every day but it won't go away. She also has dry ecsema on her legs that has come and gone last few months. Her poo has always been very soft and sticky, often with undigested food in it, like carrotts for example, still (sorry for TMI!) and often a slightly sour smell (not like "real" poo IYKWIM?)
Now she's been complaining on and off of a tummy ache for a couple of days and pooed 4 times yesterday, and 3 times already today at 10 am, sticky and soft again.

Just to give some history... When she was 3.5 mo we tried supplementing with formula milk as I couldn't express enough and had to work 1 day/week, and she had a really bad reaction with vomiting and rash that lasted a week, plus bad stomache and poos. Tried it again after a week in case it wasn't the formula but same thing happened, so we avoided all milk products and then gradually introduced again after 7 mo. But since she's always been prone to ecsema and had these weird poos, I'm getting more and more suspicious of a food allergy.

Anyone got any thoughs/similar experiences?

[Spectra]

I know for my son formula, and any other food he has a reaction to, will result in eczema first around the mouth/cheeks.  Then it goes all over his body.  He will also have diarrhea with mucus in it.  He's still young so he cannot tell me if his tummy hurts, but it wouldn't surprise me as he does get real upset.  So it is very possible your daughter is having a reaction to food.

Have you seen a doctor yet?  They may be able to set up an appt for an allergy test.
Has your daughter had any new foods in the last month, or more of a certain food, that may cause this reaction over the last month?

[deb]

I would totally have her allergies checked, given even that history. It's possible that she's allergic enough to have contact allergies to some foods; a friend's LO is so sensitive/allergic to dairy that if she even touches cheese, or if someone who's had dairy but not washed their hands well touches her, she breaks out in a rash. On the (relatively) bright side, you may be able to do some skin testing for food allergy without having to actually have her eat the stuff.

Also, as far as possible, scrupulously avoiding ANY artificial flavors and colors can often help people who are super-sensitive to them, just in case that's a factor.

Pleae keep us updated.

[deb]

You may also want to try probiotics; if there's a yeast overgrowth in the digestive tract, the food won't be digested properly. There are some out there with ZERO dairy in them (friend's LO takes them, actually, so she's found some), but you'd have to look, since many are cultured from the same stuff as yogurt and so have some dairy origins. (like flu vaccine being cultured in eggs, kinda, so people allergic to eggs can't have regular flu shots)

[Vicku]

Thanks for the replies!
I actually took DD to the docs yesterday as I could get an appointment with my fav doc the same day. She's written a referral to a children's clinic to have some tests done, so lets' hope it won't be too long until then.
DD had 5 poos yesterday, but apart from getting nappy rash from it she's seemed fine, not ill so I don't think it can be a tummy bug. I am suspecting dairy as she had a reaction to it as a baby and she started nursery/daycare a month an a half ago and she drinks milk there even if she never used to like it before I think she does it cos the other kids do IYKWIM. The doc told me not to take anything out of her diet and not to treat the ecsema on her legs with steroid cream before she gets tested, but it feels bad to gie her dairy still when I'm suspicious of it

How do they test for these allergies then? And what can they test for?

[skatty]

Oh no Vicku, how awful to have to deal with this at Lois's age, it was bad enough when L was a baby. I would also be suspicious of the dairy if you don't give milk at home and she now has it at daycare because I remember you mentioning when she first started that the eczema flared up. Her symptoms sound just like L's were and can be like now if she drinks whole milk, if you suspect dairy then I don't blame you for wanting to eliminate it, no harm as long as you provide appropriate alternatives like fortified rice milk is there?

Hope you have this sorted soon 

[Vicku]

Thanks Katt!

Anyone know how they do the testing?

[deb]

My friend's LO had to have blood drawn, and then I guess they subjected each sample to a different allergen to see what happened next. The tests she has done are specific enough that they can tell HOW allergic she is to different foods and even different pollens in the air, and they can also use those numbers to guide them as to if/when it's safe to add something back in. (She used to be unable to eat eggs, but can now have them in small quantities, which opens up whole new areas of cooking for her mom, but the numbers are still too high for dairy, for example. )

They return from time to time for a new blood draw to see what else has changed.

[Vicku]

That sounds good that they can test so accurately! Not looking forward to her having blood drawn though That'll be fun-not! I was wondering if they also do tests on their poo, or on the skin, but I guess I'll find out when they give us an appointment. I hope they hurry up though as they said I shouldn't cut anything out as they need to see the sympthoms. Can't be good though to keep having these runny poos and itchy ecsema. Poor girl

[deb]

If it's for a relatively short time, just till they can see her, it'll be good in the long run. And yeah, blood draws can be hard for kids (and harder on parents!) but still better than more of the same ol' [stuff].

[Lissybits]

Nicholas did RAST allergy tests earlier this year after his bad asthma attack and also as he had a severe allergic reaction last Christmas (with a horrific welt -like rash and swollen lips and eyes )

They took a very small amount of blood - it was so quick he didn't even realise what had happened and he didn't cry.
They tested loads of things (food, pollen plants dust etc - I can give you the full list if you're interested) and it came back 2.75 (out of 6) allergic to cats
Our cat lives outside anyway   The respiratory ped consultant told us we had to get rid of our cat

This summer, I had planned to stay with my sister in England to look after her little girl for 2 weeks - it had been planned before we had the results of the RAST - she has 2 cats
I decided to go ahead and stay anyway and just be extra vigilant with N's health. Nothing happened at all So I'm glad we didn't get rid of Kitty.

So, Vicku, even if you do the tests (which I think is a good idea) they might not be conclusive but at least you're know what she's not allergic to

Incidently, N also gets a red rash around his mouth when he eats tomatoes and oranges And he's an eczema sufferer.

HTH a little?
Lis

[Vicku]

You're right Deb, it's just for now...

Hi Lis! Thanks! That is helpful to know and yes, I would be interested in the list if you can be bothered to write it? I'm glad you didn't have to get rid of your cat! We have a cat too and I am actually allergic to cats but have somehow gotten more 'immune' by having him. I think having pets help childrens' allergies to make them less allergic as adults, so that's part of why we still have him and took him with us to sweden when we moved. Obviously if a child has a severe allergy it'd be different... glad it wasn't the cat though.

God that mut have been so scary, Nic's allergic reaction so you still don't know what caused it then?

We were told last winter by the child nurse to avoid oranges and tomatoes to see if her ecsema improved, so she still doesn't eat that much. I've also asked nursery not to give her oranges anymore, but she does sometimes have ketchup at home...

Poos are still runny and 3+/day

[Lissybits]

Hi Vicks

Ohh, sorry to hear about the poo - that must be sore for poor Lois

I had a look for the sheet, but I think I must have handed it over when we went for the blood tests - sorry 
But here is a link to the post I wrote back then and the tests that our ped ticked from the list - it will give you an idea.
Sorry I can't be much more help
Hugs
 

http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=123090.msg1305941#msg1305941

[Vicku]

Thanks Lis, I'll have a read about that.

[Mydreamcametrue]

Hi there:

I just want to say that she may not even show positive at all on the allergy test.  It could all be just an intolerance, which is just as bad, but so much harder to diagnose.

Both of my kids were allergy tested.  First we did the skin prick test.  They test for about 50 allergens or so.  They mark off there back and then do little pricks with the allergen.  It was a little uncomfortable, but not painful. 
My first son also had the RAST blood test done several times.  That was AWFUL.  They have to stick the needle in the arm and actually draw out test tubes of blood.

My 2nd son, showed negative to all allergens, BUT still cannot have milk or he gets awful runny poop. 

So all I am saying is, deft. have the test done, but if it shows negative, I would not rule out an intolerance.

When is her appoitment?

If it was not in the next 2 weeks, I would cut out ALL diary, even hidden for 2 weeks and see if she improves. 
Then you can try to re-introduce dairy and see what happens. 

Good Luck with everything, Wendy