Allergic to chicken?

[ChasMom]

Hi Ladies, this is my first time posting on this forum.
A couple of days ago, I gave my son chicken baby food (the ingredients on the list are chicken and chicken broth) for the first time.  About an hour later when I went to change his diaper, I noticed a large, irregular red and raised area on his left thigh that was warm to touch and had some white areas too.  I called his ped and was told to bring him in.  By the time I got to the ped, it had spread to both his legs.  After looking at it and discussing it with the ped we determined that it might have been a reaction to the new food, maybe something in the chicken broth since the ped says that chicken itself is not very allergenic.  He was put on Benadryl for 5-7 days and I was also given a second prescription for prednison to fill if it was worse or not any better.  I called the baby food company and was told that the only ingredients in the broth are chicken and water.  So now I'm wondering if it was the chicken itself.  I've heard of egg and feather allergies but can people be allergice to chicken meat :? ?  By the way, he's still getting the rash, it comes and goes and now it's on his trunk also.  I'd appreciate any opinions or insight.
Thanks!

[notenoughshelfspace]

Gosh, if you would risk it my only suggestion would be to make your own chicken broth, using organic chicken and see if he has the same reaction. I do not like using jarred food for this very reason; who knows what is in those things?  I have never heard of a chicken allergy so perhaps it is worth trying.

[caljaccol]

My dh is allergic to chicken!!!  He breaks out in huge red hives all over his upper legs and chest.  He also says that his chest feels like it is getting really tight.

Unless the Dr. is willing to do testing the only way to know is to try giving him a small amount again (which I really don't advise).  With dh we just eliminated all poultry from his diet and he has been fine (he has trouble with eggs as well).  Our Dr. says that there is a good chance he isn't allergic to the chicken itself but, the things being fed to the chicken (hromones to make them grow bigger, faster,...).

[notenoughshelfspace]

It was for this very reason ( chemicals, hormones etc.....) that I only recommend organic, free range meat.

[Livvismum]

I couldn't pick much up from the web but did find this. It is a restricted piece of research but does give an executive summary at the beginning which you can read.

http://www.food-allergens.de/symposium-3-4/chicken/chicken-abstract.html

hth

Sara

[ChasMom]

Thanks for the replies ladies!
I think for now I'm just going to stay away from chicken just to be safe.
I guess eventually with the peds o.k. I'll try making him some organic chicken and see how he tolerates that but right now I"m too scared.  He's still getting hives here and there whenever the Benadryl starts to wear off.  You know and I was so hesitant about given him that jarred meat crap.  It's gross!
Caljaccol, my DS also got the hives on his upper thighs first.
What I don't understand is that he was able to get the flu shot several weeks ago.  I thought you couldn't get flu shots if you were allergic to eggs and chicken feathers.  Wouldn't he have reacted to that also?
I hate not knowing exactly what it could have been.

[GraceKellysmom]

Other possibility is soy allergy. Most commercial chicken is injected with "broth" that contains soy.

With that reaction, I wouldn't give (any) chicken again for a long time, and then in the presence of the doctors.

[caljaccol]

Caljaccol, my DS also got the hives on his upper thighs first.
What I don't understand is that he was able to get the flu shot several weeks ago.  I thought you couldn't get flu shots if you were allergic to eggs and chicken feathers.  Wouldn't he have reacted to that also?
I hate not knowing exactly what it could have been.

My dh has no trouble with flu shots.  If I remember correctly some of the  flu shots have no is it egg protein? in it.  I know that, up here anyway, babies under a year can get the flu shot, but one of their 1 year shots can not be given until the introduction of eggs does that make sense?  The flu shot can be given without introducing the child to egg first.

Anyway, I would just stay away from chicken and see if the reaction occurs again.  If not then there is a good chance it was the chicken. 

The joys of discovering what is causing hives :roll: