Thread: Peanut reaction

James (who else?!) decided to have a reaction to peanuts late last Tuesday night.

He'd had them for the first time at MILs at the end of March (dry roasted ones). I was surprised that he picked them up and commented half jokingly that I hoped he wasn't allergic.

As he'd been fine, I let him have 3 or 4 on Tuesday. He loved them so have a few more. After a few minutes he complained stating he thought he had an ulcer in his mouth. I looked, but couldn't see anything so assumed he'd just bitten the inside of his cheek. A couple of minutes later he said his eye was hurting, so I took him into the bathroom under the bright light to check.

His eye was all red and itchy and as I looked at him I realised half of his bottom lip seemed swollen, as well as his right cheek and he started to develop a red rash around his mouth too.

I got Chris to come and have a look and he said the same, that Jame's lip was swelling. I got on the phone to NHS Direct and after a few questions they sent for an ambulance. By this time the whole of his bottom lip was swollen as well as some parts of his top lip.

Luckily, he didn't get any worse and when the paramedics arrived they gave him some anti-histamine syrup we had and soon the symptoms started to go away.

We've mentioned it to our GP and he's gonna get James allergy tested. I didn't know that the first time you may not show a reaction, but a couple of people have since told me that.

Now I'm concerned about how vigilant I should be. If he had peanuts again, would the reaction be worse each time? Obviously I'm not going to give him any, but should I be looking at the ingredients of everything now??

Jo

I'm not an allergy expert (others on the board are). But I suspect that if he had a reaction like that then he is at risk of anaphylactic shock in the future and should be avoiding the in foods. Your GP tests should confirm the cause.
In hospital (I'm a nurse) almost all allergies to intravenous drugs given occur on the second dose. This is because your body detects them the first time and and develops defences which are activated the second time.
annie

Sorry about this Jo - I know exactly how you feel as dd had a very severe allergic reaction to peanut butter - it is extremely scary.

Like PP says I would avoid all nuts until your son has been allergy tested to avoid any further reactions.

Thanks for your replies.

At first, I wasn't too worried about it, 'cos the anti-histamine worked, but the more I talk to people about it the more concerned I'm getting.

Wonder how long it'll take to sort out the allergy testing - do you get the results straightaway or have to wait?

It would make sense to speak to Dsw at length on this, and to have some Piriton for emergencies for the time being.

Jo - If they skin prick test the results are immediate!!!

AL - Is right about the piriton aswell - just carry it with you at all times.

Starry's ds is also nut allergic.

We've got our appt through for this. It's at the ENT dept at the hospital middle of June.

Great News!!! At least you will know one way or the other now - fingers crossed he is not allergic and it was a one off!!!

glad you've got an appt through. I agree, carry the piriton round with you at all times and avoid anything with nuts in.

Hope it all goes well