Peanut allergy moms...a few questions

My 20 month old DS was recently tested (by blood work) and has a peanut allergy. My pediatrician prescribed the epi pen & I picked it up.
I am just wondering what other type of precautions should I/do I have to take now?
Should I go see an allergist for further testing to determine how severe it is?
Bc of a peanut allergy, is he more prone to being allergic to different types of foods? He eats pretty much everything and I haven't noticed any reactions? He was tested & He is not allergic to soybeans, hazelnuts, walnuts, cashews, pistachios...

Thank you in advance for your help!

Re: Peanut allergy moms...a few questions

My DS was dx with a peanut allergy at 24 mos due to a reaction (vomiting, incessant coughing) and subsequent bloodwork.

Our pediatrician sent us for bloodwork and it came back positive for peanut, several tree nuts, eggs (which we already knew due to a reaction), and low level allergies to wheat, milk, and soy.

The initial bloodwork from your ped should tell you how "severe" the allergy is, but really, the numbers can be misleading and may cause undue stress. For example, on paper, my son has the maximum possible peanut allergy: >100 and level VI. But from all I've learned, those numbers don't tell you what kind of a reaction your kid will have; in other words, a level III kid could have a worse reaction than a level VI.

We did see an allergist I guess just to talk to a specialist. He also did some skin testing of other tree nuts for which he wasn't blood tested. I'd go ahead and make the appt with the allergist; for the price of a copay, you should get some peace of mind.

I don't know if one allergy makes a person more susceptible to other allergies, but as you can see, my son has plenty...plus eczema.

I'm going to be completely honest, I haven't changed our lives barely at all...sure, we read labels and avoid "processed in a plant with peanuts" etc, but the rest of us still eat peanut butter, eggs, and what not. I travel everywhere with my EpiPen, his teachers have one too and really that's about it. Although, I must admit, he's going to FT pre-k next year and that makes me a bit nervous.

I find it's an easy allergy to manage because peanuts are a really specific food and I find, easily contained, unlike a wheat allergy, let's say.

Wow...this went way too long! Good luck...you'll be fine.

Re: Peanut allergy moms...a few questions

Welcome to the scary world of food allergies!

My son is allergic to peanuts, tree nuts and sesame.

I personally prefer scratch testing to blood testing and we've never had blood testing done. Did he have a reaction already?

You should avoid anything that says "may contains" or "made in a facility with." You should also be aware that those labels are completely voluntary, so lack of those labels doesn't mean that there isn't cross contamination. Also be aware that many nuts are cross contaminated in general. So even if you decide to eat other nuts (not peanuts) those nuts may have been cross-contaminated. You should try to find companies that strictly use tree nuts like Barney Butter for almond butter. I don't have much experience since my son is allergic to peanuts and tree nuts, but this is just what I've learned in my time.

Get into the habit of calling companies. It just takes a few minutes and can give you lots of comfort! Avoid cuisines that typically use nuts like Asian (Thai, Chinese, etc). Get a few epi pens! Keep them everywhere. Learn how to inject them. I've unfortunately had to do it twice. I don't know how you are in emergency situations but I am very calm and collected.... my mom on the other hand FREAKS OUT! I never practiced before, but I have her practice because I know she wouldn't handle it the same way I do.

To be honest, we avoid eating out almost entirely. There are too many concerns. We eat out for date night and for places that are 100% safe (meaning they have no nuts on their premises at all). Avoid places that are high for cross-contamintion especially like bakeries, dunkin donuts, starbucks. etc. I know your little one is little (mine is 4 now but diagnosed at 9 months old), but teach your child about allergies and how to respond when given food.

Don't feed your child ANYTHING baked/cooked at someone else's house! Nobody will ever be as careful as you are.

Go through your pantry and fridge and get rid of EVERYTHING that your child can't eat.

Learn which companies label for cross-contamination and which don't. Once you get a better idea of this, you won't have to make as many phone calls.

Know that ANY allergy can become anaphylactic. It doesn't matter if they "only" got hives the first time. I say this from experience!!!!!

Know that it's likely not a matter of IF you'll ever have to administer an Epi pen... but WHEN. It will probably happen. I've made mistakes that I'm not proud of but I have learned and grown so much. My son's anaphylactic reactions were in September and October of last year after being diagnosed in 2010. Before his anaphylaxis we were MUCH more lax, but I regret that because we could have avoided a lot.

Anyway, I'm on FB too and here if you ever want to talk. Sorry this became a novel but it's something I deal with every day and something I'm very passionate about.

If it makes you feel any better, I have 2 other younger children and neither have food allergies :)

Re: Peanut allergy moms...a few questions

Posted by Eireann

My DS was dx with a peanut allergy at 24 mos due to a reaction (vomiting, incessant coughing) and subsequent bloodwork.

Our pediatrician sent us for bloodwork and it came back positive for peanut, several tree nuts, eggs (which we already knew due to a reaction), and low level allergies to wheat, milk, and soy.

The initial bloodwork from your ped should tell you how "severe" the allergy is, but really, the numbers can be misleading and may cause undue stress. For example, on paper, my son has the maximum possible peanut allergy: >100 and level VI. But from all I've learned, those numbers don't tell you what kind of a reaction your kid will have; in other words, a level III kid could have a worse reaction than a level VI.

We did see an allergist I guess just to talk to a specialist. He also did some skin testing of other tree nuts for which he wasn't blood tested. I'd go ahead and make the appt with the allergist; for the price of a copay, you should get some peace of mind.

I don't know if one allergy makes a person more susceptible to other allergies, but as you can see, my son has plenty...plus eczema.

I'm going to be completely honest, I haven't changed our lives barely at all...sure, we read labels and avoid "processed in a plant with peanuts" etc, but the rest of us still eat peanut butter, eggs, and what not. I travel everywhere with my EpiPen, his teachers have one too and really that's about it. Although, I must admit, he's going to FT pre-k next year and that makes me a bit nervous.

I find it's an easy allergy to manage because peanuts are a really specific food and I find, easily contained, unlike a wheat allergy, let's say.

Wow...this went way too long! Good luck...you'll be fine.

Re: Peanut allergy moms...a few questions

Wow! Thank you soooo much for your responses & for. All the advice! This is very helpful! This is my 3rd child but the first with allergies :( thankfully he has not had an anaphalactic reaction! He had a few bites of a pb&j sandwich recently and almost immediately turned red around his mouth & couldn't stop scratching his neck:(

I'm sure I will have more questions but I'm def making an appt with an allergist!

Thank u again!!!!