Possible Peanut or Egg Allergy?

Updated on November 14, 2011
C.M. asks from Harpers Ferry, WV
4 answers

Good morning! So, since moving here to VA in January (11 months ago) my 6 year old daughter has developed some allergies. The first one that she had a reaction to was ibuprofen. We saw an allergist and after skin testing she is also allergic to dogs (never would have thought that, we don't have any pets), grass, and fall weeds. A little over a week ago she broke out in a itchy rough little bump rash all over her tummy, back and arms, plus random hives on her legs and neck. I took her back to the allergist and he didn't do any skin testing becuase I had to give her benadryl for the rash. But, she does also have hashimotos and the allergist thought that the rash could be just an auto immune thing because she does get hives every once in a while. The day that she broke out in the rash last week, she had an over load of peanut butter that day. Dr. didn't think that was the problem though. Yesterday for breakfast she had some eggs, and then mid day she had a little bit of peanut butter. This morning when I went to wake her up for school, her face was swollen! Her lips are huge and her nose is stuffy and swollen and she has dark circles under her eyes. For those that have a peanut or egg allergy, did it start like this (gradually over time)? Or did it go from nothing to full on swelling? I know that allergies can form over time and she has been eating peanut butter and eggs since before she was 2 years old. I'm keeping her home from school today and will be taking her back to the allergist so he can see her reaction and hopefully do some skin testing so we can find out what it might be. But, I just wanted to hear other's experience with this too.
Thank you!

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So What Happened?

UPDATE:
So, we are home from the allergist. He did do some skin testing and eggs and peanuts came out negative. BUT hazelnuts and pecans came up positive. She has been eating nutella! But to just be sure he is also going to have us go and do a blood test on all everything that they tested today just to be 100% sure. What a relief! Thank you all for the advice. He did give us a prescription for an epi pen and he wants her to take zyrtec daily now. Not sure how I feel about the zyrtec but I will be looking into a more homeopathic allergy medicine. I'm really more into homeopathic everything, so I will see. But of course I will do what is best for her. Thank you!

thanks. I agree with all of you. My son swelled up like a balloon with pennicelin (sp?) and we had 2 ER trips and 2 epi pen shots (at the ER) and benadryl for 1 week round the clock with him. The last time we were at the allergist besides last week was 3 months ago. She had a full panel blood testing done which is when we found out that she has hashimotos and is slightly hypothyroid (I am as well). Her antibodies were sky high but the allergist thought that was because she is allergic to ibuprofen. When we were there last week he could not do any skin testing because she has to be off of benadryl for at least 5 days and it had only been 3 when we were there. He gave us orders to re check her thyroid and antibody levels but things have been crazy because we are moving in 2 days and so we are planning on doing it on Thursday (the day after the move). But, I did get an appointment for today at 3:15 for the allergist. I'm really hoping he will at least check eggs and peanuts in a skin test today. Last time he was telling me that skin testing is only 50% accurate, but I would still like to have it done just incase. Oh, and I did take pics this morning of her with my cell phone. Thank you! I'm so nervous and scared and I hate that she is going through this.

More Answers

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K.M.

answers from Norfolk on

With any allergy the first time you're exposed to the allergen you likely have no response. Each time you're exposed to the allergen the reaction will get worse (that's not true of all allergies though). For example, I'm allergic to nuts. I've been exposed to them and had an allergic reaction to them probably 24 times in my life. Each time the reaction remained the same. I am fortunate that I didn't have an anaphylactic reaction until I was in my late 20's. It wasn't gradual AT ALL. The previous time I was exposed I just had an itchy throat. The next time I was in the ER. So she could be allergic to peanut butter. The reaction your daughter had could be eggs or pb. Was she tested for either? My daughter had no reaction the first time she was exposed to dairy. The second time she blew up like a balloon. The next time she swelled up and couldn't breathe. My suggestion is to ALWAYS have Benadryl and an Epi-Pen with you. We're fortunate that with my daughter's food allergies and with mine we're able to control it with Benadryl but we always carry our Epi-Pens. You can never be too careful. Good luck at the doctor today! I hope your little one is feeling better soon!

1 mom found this helpful
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B.R.

answers from Columbus on

Is she on any immune suppressing medication? Because sometimes that can lead to the development of allergies. I'm really surprised the allergist didn't run the RAST blood tests for allergies. You should demand both the RAST and the skin prick tests. SPT can give false positives and RAST can give false negatives, so they are usually both given to figure out what you're sensitized to. Face swelling is a sign of anaphylaxis and it could have been serious--what if her throat was swollen as well? She needs to get an Epi-pen in case this happens again. If she reacts badly once, the next reaction can be a lot worse because now she has more anitbodies in circulation.

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M.C.

answers from Washington DC on

Oh my gosh. Take her to the ER ASAP!!! If her face is swollen that can/will effect her breathing. The dr. can run a long series of tests against a blood sample including all nuts.

M.Q.

answers from Detroit on

I agree w/Kristen. You should also takes pictures of your daughter to show the allergist the reaction.

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