Allergic reaction to dinner tonight

[Swoop]

We're doing BLS so DD eats what we eat, usually without much issue. She's had peanut butter a few times before, and we had satay tonight, assuming there'd be no issue. She only ate 2 spoonfuls, then started moaning, coughing and got red blotches all around her mouth within about 5 minutes.

I went through the ingredients that I'd used and the only thing she's never had before is coconut milk. I'm just wondering what the likelihood is that she's allergic to that (which to me seemed strange if she's fine with peanuts) or whether she could develop a peanut allergy even though she's been fine with them previously. I also used sesame oil when I was cooking, which she'd never had before, but she has had hommus made with tahini several times before, so assumes that would be fine.

She was fine after about 20 minutes - we cleaned around her mouth carefully to make sure whatever it was that was causing the problem was off her skin, and made her drink plenty of water too until the coughing stopped. We kept her up a bit later than usual to make sure she was okay too. Do you think i should take her to the doctor and ask for allergy testing?

[~Kim~]

Swoop, I'm certainly no expert on allergies, but I'll offer our experience.

My DS had had a few 'tastes' of Peanut butter before I actually gave him some (thanks DD) but when he had his first sandwich with it we got spot around his mouth. I asked the MCHN and she said that was the most likely cause, so we should just trial small amounts on him, like a lick as he got older. However I noticed that even when I ate PB on toast he got the dots, so we aren't trialling anything anytime soon (allergy testing out here isn't really an option).

Both kids I know that have anaphylaxis with peanuts have had multiple exposures to them prior to a real reaction, like the body is building up it's response. Apparently that is often how it happens.

[Swoop]

Thanks Kim, that's interesting - I didn't know it worked like that. I'd have thought the peanuts would have been the most likely cause though.

DD does sometimes get spots around her mouth after eating, but I've never been able to work out which foods cause it. Last night it looked more like someone had gone around her mouth with a red paint brush though - big patches of red rather than spots.

[Nai]

Coconut is a food that kids can be allergic to however peanut exposure can increase the allergic response in kids that are prone. This is why DD1 has to have an epipen even though she has never had an anaphylactic reaction - the next time she comes in contact with peanuts she may have one and it is unpredictable.

[Olive]

id definatly get her allergy tested hun peace of mind

[Fleur]

id definatly get her allergy tested hun peace of mind

Yep, me too, would be better to know for sure what it is.

[Swoop]

I made her an appointment at the doctors this afternoon. She got the same rash this morning just after DH kissed her, and he'd been eating peanut butter on toast.

We're going to NZ at Christmas and staying somewhere relatively remote, so I'm hoping we can get her checked quickly after what you said about the epi pen Nai.

[Jennifer13]

I'd say the peanuts are the culprits. This is very similar to my gf's DS's allergy to peanuts and while he never had an anaphylactic episode, they did need to be careful. There's so many trace elements in everything that it builds up if it isn't avoided.

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

The allergy testing is a great idea but unless your going to a private Paed for the allergy testing i'd hate to say it i don't like your chances of getting in before x-mas.
DD2 took a couple of months on the waiting list and we only got a spot cos i happened to call right as someone cancelled, the waiting lists for kids OVER 1yr old can be well over 6 - 12mths.

Hoping it's not serious and that you can get some answers ASAP.. we too have to carry an epi-pen for DD2, she has a dairy allergy and was borderline for nuts & egg it's hard but if you can just watch exactly what ppl give her for now you shoudl be ok.

[Mum2SweetCs]

Hi Swoop
I too am no expert but i think each person reacts differently. With my friend's son who is allergic to bananas, she tried 3 times prior with no issues until the forth time he got hives all over his body and now whenever he eats a bit of bananas he gets hives straight away.

So it might take some time before any allergic reaction can be seen.

Good luck and hope you can get your DD allergy tested soon

[Nai]

Swoop - we got DD1 tested urgently as we she had the reaction a few weeks before we were heading off overseas so they slotted her in quickly. Becasue we were going to be in a remote location, they insited that we had the epipen. She has never needed it but it is peace of mind. I hope you can get her tested ASAP.

[Swoop]

Thanks everyone. I feel pretty convinced that it was the peanut too Jen. We are registered with a private paed from when she had all her weight issues, haven't been for a while, but the referral is current. I'll see how it goes this afternoon and be back to let you know.

[Swoop]

Just coming back in to update... The GP thinks it's the peanuts, she gave us a referral to a specialist and told me to keep DD and myself away from all nuts in the meantime. I called the specialist, but the earliest appointment they had was May so I called DD's old paed and asked if they could recommend anyone - got an appointment for the beginning of Feb.

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

Just coming back in to update... The GP thinks it's the peanuts, she gave us a referral to a specialist and told me to keep DD and myself away from all nuts in the meantime. I called the specialist, but the earliest appointment they had was May so I called DD's old paed and asked if they could recommend anyone - got an appointment for the beginning of Feb.

Sorry you have to wait so long, it's a PITA but i guess it's a lot more common than we think... hopefully it's nothign TOO serious!

[Swoop]

Thanks ZF. Feb's not too bad - May just sounded ridiculous though!

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

Ohh FWIW i got DD some stickers for on her tops when we go out in public and for in her drink bottle etc, will PM you the link.
If your going away it might be a good idea to get something thats says NO NUTS - where i got them from has allergy stickers or you can make your own

[Swoop]

Oh yes, hood idea, thanks for that, and for the links. I should phone the airlines we're flying with and have no nuts put onto my meal requests too. Thanks )

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

Strangely enough my MCHN had never had ANYONE think of the stickers, i have put NO DAIRY PRODUCTS stickers on DD's drink bottles and any lunch container i take for her (yes they are washable etc but hey gotta be safe).
I bought a pack with the small stickers and then a seperate one with the dots aswell, small sticker ON her clothing & drink bottle, DOTS on drink bottles etc aswell.

Ahh yeah the airline is a good idea, a lot of the time they do cereal with nuts etc.