Peanut Allergy - Medford,OR

Updated on April 08, 2010
A.J. asks from Medford, OR
17 answers

Have any of you experienced your child suddenly developing a peanut allergy when they didn't previously have one? My daughter had eaten peanut butter before, but not very often. Recently, she's been requesting peanut butter sandwiches for her preschool lunch, so she's eaten them more in the last 2 weeks than she had previously. She has had a runny nose and eyes for the last 10 days or so. At first, we thought she had a cold, because she seemed to be getting better. Today after eating another peanut butter sandwich for lunch, she broke out in red patches on her face and has some shadowing under one of her eyes. I've given her children's Claritin and she's not getting anymore peanut butter until we figure this out. If she doesn't get better soon, we'll call the pediatrician. Thanks.

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So What Happened?

Thanks, Moms, for all your information. I took her to the pediatrician this morning and they think the runny nose, eyes and cough are caused by a virus, but that the rash and shadowing under her eye may be caused by an allergy. They want us to keep her away from peanut products and wait until she's over the cold before trying it in small amounts again. If she reacts again, we'll have her tested.

Featured Answers

B.K.

answers from Chicago on

My nephew became allergic to eggs and peanuts at about the age of 6. You need to take her to an allergist soon to have this diagnosed, and get an epi-pen in case the reactions get worse - if she is indeed allergic.

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S.H.

answers from Spokane on

Hello ~ i actually have a peanut allergy myself and my pediatrician told me not to expose my boys to peanut butter until they can be tested. He said there is a shot he will give them while at the office so they can monitor their reaction to it and determine if they in fact are allergic. I would recommend you call and get her in sooner than later and have her tested. It's a very scary thing!!

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K.C.

answers from Philadelphia on

I'm surprised your ped told you to try giving her small amount of PB after her virus cleared up. That's a risky way to find out if she truly has a peanut allergy. My daughter ate tree nuts her whole life with no problem, then when she was 4yrs old, a walnut put her into near anaphylactic shock. Her allergy specialist later told us (after she went through extensive testing) that the body can sometimes take it and take it and take it, then one day it can't. If I were you, I'd not give her ANY peanut products at all, not even "trying it in small amounts", until she's been tested by an allergist. If she's allergic, her next reaction could be much more serious than itchy eyes and a rash. Good luck!

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J.F.

answers from Toledo on

We discovered my (almost) 2 year old daughter's peanut allergy when she was 13 months old. It was very scarry. To my knowledge, this was her first experience with peanut butter, but the doctor said that usually, it takes more than one exposure to develop the allergy because your body doesn't know to make the antibodies unless it has been exposed. We've come to the conclusion that her initial exposure(s) were from what may have been passed through the breastmilk.

We were also told that each reaction is worse than the one before. You can have her tested with a simple blood draw. If she does have the allergy, you need to know ASAP so you can begin to "purge" your pantry of all things containing or that may have been contaminated with peanuts. It is AMAZING how many things contain peanuts...even if only in traces. You never really think of these things until you are forced to live it every day. We do not buy anything without reading the entire ingredient list first. If there is no list, we don't buy it.

Please don't "wait and see." If this is an allergy, it could very well be deadly as soon as her next encounter. You need to be well informed, educated and prepared.

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C.D.

answers from Los Angeles on

My daughter is allergic to cashews and walnuts. She had a horrible reaction the second time she ate a cashew--her throat swelled, eyes swelled shut, hives, etc. We took her to an allergist. According to him, he's hopeful that her next exposure, if she were to have one, would not be worse, but the same. In his experience, exposures are not progressive if the child doesn't have asthma. If the child does have asthma, it could get worse. She has to have two epi-pens with her at all times, though, just in case.

Definitely see an allergist. Definitely avoid peanuts and products containing peanuts.

It's a pain at first, but you get used to it!

C.
www.littlebitquirky.blogspot.com

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G.B.

answers from Boise on

Peanuts are infected with a mold growth called aspergillus flavus, an aflatoxin which in carcinogenic. They are also grown with companion plants- cotton- which is highly dusted in pesticide.

Peanut butter has Heavy metals in it, specifically aluminum that I know of , maybe others.

Vit C and magnesium can chelate some heavy metals out.

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S.S.

answers from Chicago on

My grandson is 5. He has in the past had peanut butter sandwiches. they never seemed to affect him. the christmas he was 2 and a half someone gave him a pecan sandi cookie. his throat closed up his eyes swelled shut he couldn't breath it was awful. an abulance was called and thank god they had an epi pen. He now carries one in his backpack, the teacher has one and each parent keeps one. my daughter took him before school for the allergy scratch tests. turns out he can't have any tree nuts or peanuts. so yep it comes on all the sudden. I would have her tested just to be sure.

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M.P.

answers from Portland on

You have described the symptoms of an allergy. Peanut allergies are more prevalent and have more serious consequences than some other allergies. Good that you're not giving her any more peanut butter.

I strongly urge you to take her to a pediatric allergist. Peanut allergy is nothing to fool around with. So much of our prepared and processed foods contain peanut.

My 9yo granddaughter is allergic to peanuts. This was discovered thru allergy testing when she was just a few months old. She has an epi-pen at school and her mother carries an epi-pen with her at all times because the reaction to a peanut allergy can be deadly, more so than other allergies.

My granddaughter is now a part of a study to decide if children can be desensitized to peanuts. The medical community is working to find a way to desensitize people with peanut allergies because of the prevalence and seriousness of the allergy.

I developed food allergies as an adult. I saw the doctor because I was having chronic abdominal pain and nausea. Tests showed that among several other foods I was allergic to peanuts. I have learned over the years that I can eat small amounts of the foods to which I'm allergic and not have a reaction until I eat that food several days in a row or in large amounts.

Because of my own experience with food allergies, I strongly suspect that your daughter is allergic to peanuts. The allergy hasn't shown up earlier because her body could deal with the small amounts of allergen. Now that she's eaten a larger quantity in a few days her body can't manage it.

An antihistamine is the way to treat an allergic reaction. It may take a few hours for the red patches to go away. Shadowing under the eyes can stay for longer. It is important to have allergy testing even if her symptoms go away.

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K.G.

answers from St. Louis on

From having taught kids with allergies in the past, they do sometimes come on suddenly. The thought is that the allergens build up in their system, giving the antibodies more and more time to develop an attack response to what should be an innocent product. When the allergens pass a certain threshold, then the antibodies really go into overdrive.

Have her tested, and until then, good luck. our son kept an epi pen with him at all times, but he seems to have grown out of his reaction. Maybe your daughter will do the same!

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J.C.

answers from Anchorage on

Usually a peanut allergies causes the throat to swell shut, not just runny eyes. I would call and ask your doctor about it.

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K.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

Yes, allergies can pop up suddenly, even with foods that were previously ok. And, though the most severe peanut allergies do cause the throat to swell as a previous poster mentioned, that is NOT the only way the manifest. Hives and a runny nose are definitely signs of an allergy. You should avoid ALL peanuts and peanut products until you visit with your doctor.

Good luck!

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N.W.

answers from Eugene on

If you suspect your daughter has a peanut allergy, you may want to try feeding it to her again at the doctor's office. We did this with our food allergic kids. Our GP had us come in after hours when he had paperwork to do. We fed the suspected allergens to our kids and waited for an hour or two. It was safer than doing this at home because two of our kids had already had anaphylactic reactions and when that happens, it's critical to get medical treatment right away.

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A.S.

answers from Clarksville on

We discovered that our son is allergic to dairy and soy the same way. All of a sudden he couldnt eat any soy and he had already had a dairy sensitivity but now he cant really have it at all! Just stop giving her the peanut butter for a while and see what happens but she may also be developing allergies from other things as well. We have been dealing with this with our 28 month old and are finally getting everything figured out for the lil guy. He is starting to get better b/c he is also allergic to mold, dust, and pollen. It might also be something in the bread maybe? Wheat or gluten? Hope this helps and dont worry youll get it figured out soon enough.

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J.K.

answers from Phoenix on

My kids developed a peanut allergy suddenly and I also developed one as an adult all of a sudden. I actually had my peanut allergy cleared with acupuncture and it worked for me. My kids didn't clear the first time but we'll keep working on it.

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W.C.

answers from Seattle on

That is how allergies are found. Do not give her peanuts until you talk to her pediatrician, and do talk to her pediatrician. Take it out of your house and write on the counters somewhere that she is not to ever have peanuts again. Also inform the teacher and nurse at her school immediately. Like yesterday. Peanuts are a favorite snack for school. There is almond butter if you want to go that way.

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S.R.

answers from San Francisco on

Our son ate peanut butter for several months with no issues, probably 2-3 times a week. Then my husband started giving him cashews (I wasn't aware at the time) and he broke out with a rash around his mouth. It took several ped visits, then a referral to a dermatologist and finally to the allergist to determine he has a slight allergy to peanuts. He still gets foods occasionally with peanuts like natures way oats and honey bar and has no problems/breakouts. The allergist did say that it was probably the combination of peanuts and cashews that created the allergy.

Has she had any other kind of nut recently either directly or in something she ate? That could have caused it too. Get her to an allergist to determine the cause so you can prevent worse reactions. Good luck. Soynut butter is what we replaced peanut butter with, we don't care for it but our son loves it. =)

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N.M.

answers from Medford on

Speaking as someone who has food allergies - they do tend to build up in the system and then cause a full on "break out".

First of all, not all food sensitivities are allergies. and no matter what the doctor says those allergy tests where they prick the skin hurt the kids like heck. My son was mad at me for two years and reminded me at least once a week how much that hurt and how miserable it was. (he is not generally a whiner - it really hurts the kids).

I would eliminate the peanut butter immediately. I have found the Eat Right For Your Blood Type book by Peter D'Adamo to be an excellent guide to the foods that various people are naturally sensitive too. It has helped our family tremendously. For example if she is a type O peanuts and wheat are both hard to digest, along with jelly that has corn syrup or processed sugar - making a pbj a deathly combo. Alternative: almond butter, spelt bread and honey or all fruit spread. Not hard to do - a matter of learning what does and doesn't work for the body.

Also, to be frank, in this country we don't poop enough. We should be going ideally three times a day at least twice. Once a day is not enough. If you don't "take out the trash" it builds up in the system and allergies and food sensitivity worsen. Increase water, fresh fruit and activity usually takes care of this.

Avoid acidic foods like processed juices with added sugars, sodas, chocolate, etc.

I high recommend the blood type book. I watched it make a huge difference for both my son and I = it is easier than you think and the Dr. gives you lot's of good research and back that makes it all make sense.

I would not give the claritin or over the counter meds to repress the symptoms as I have found the drying up of the symptoms does not have the best long term effects. There are teas and homeopathic that relieve the symptoms - it may also be the wheat and or dairy.

The best way to know is to eliminate wheat, dairy and peanuts for a while until she feels better then introduce small amounts one at time to see if she reacts.

Peanuts are not the best quality food, but like sugar and soda they have been pushed on us by corporate food manufacturers. Think about peanuts replaced cotton as a crop that would grow in otherwise very difficult soils.

Unfortunately, and I say with love and appreciation for my doctor friends who are themselves frustrated with the system and its' inadequate training they the must live wit, most doctors only get 6 hours of training on food and nutrition so they don't really understand it's effect on the body.

Our food becomes our body. It is what the body uses to build cells, tissue to feed our brains etc. what goes in our mouths effect every cell of our body.

This could be the door way for your whole family to learn about the quality of food and the types of foods that will be best for your body and make you healthiest. If they put really good quality foods into our school systems and our kids we would be amazed at the improved quality of health and learning our children experience. Enjoy learning and feel free to send me a message if I can be of any help. Learning how to eat has been a delight not a chore because we all feel better.

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