Children's Allergies

I use to post here a lot but I haven't in a while.  My 8 yo dd has a peanut allergy, she never had a serious reaction.  The two reactions she has had involved lot's of drooling and she was saying it felt like something was in her throat and she couldn't swallow, she had no breathing problems.  Testing showed she wasn't severely allergic but they still gave us an epi pen just in case.  Well I have two questions. At school the nurse has a epi but I worry that if she does accidently get exposed and her reaction isn't really bad and her nurse gives her the epi when she really didn't need it, will this make her sick?  I plan on bringing my concern up to her doc the next time we go in. But was wondering if anyone uses just Benadryl as a first defense and everything is okay and not have to use the epi?

My other ? is that my dd will eat M&M's sometimes (plain chocolate), I know it says possible cross contamination, but since she doesn't have a severe reaction is this still safe?  We've never had a problem before but I was wondering if people are more cautious if their kids are ana viruses not having an ana reaction?  Thanks for any advice! 

       

 

                          

 

             

                                                                                                                                                                 

First, here's a link to a chart for allergic reactions:

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/111/6/S2/1601/T2

Difficulty swallowing is a stage 4 respiratory reaction and requires epi.  Do you have a Food Allergy Action Plan (FAAP)?  http://www.foodallergy.org/downloads/FAAP.pdf  Have you discussed these rxns with her allergist?  Did he tell you to use benadryl instead of epi for difficulty swallowing?

Second, testing cannot reveal how severe the reaction will be.  Testing can only confirm/rule out an allergy.  It is very possible for a person who is barely positive to have a severe rxn, while someone with a strong positive result will have a mild rxn.  (Read this page from The Peanut Allergy Answer Book by Dr Young http://www.amazon.com/Peanut-Allergy-Answer-Book-2nd/dp/1592332331/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257520900&sr=8-1#reader_1592332331)

Third, the epi will not hurt her or make her sick, even if she doesn't need it.  (It may increase her heart rate and breathing but the effects are temporary and pass.)  My DD's FAAP calls for immediate epi for suspected ingestion if she is with a babysitter.  My personal AAP calls for epi for bee stings regardless of the species that stings me.  I have used the epi; and it did make my body tremble, but it wasn't awful.

Fourth, on the subject of M&M's, may contains, manufactured in the same facility/eqpmt etc, it's important to note that random testing showed that 17% of products with these labels do contain the allergen.  Dr Wood (one of the top allergists in country) puts it like this: http://www.amazon.com/Food-Allergies-Dummies-Robert-Wood/dp/0470095849/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257522378&sr=1-1#reader_0470095849

Ultimately, eating foods with warning labels is a game of roulette and depends on your comfort zone.  I have two friends with kids with PA.  They allow foods with warning labels and homemade baked goods (without labels or investigating).  Their kids have had more rxns than my DD because I have a tighter comfort zone.  (Of course, not all rxns can be prevented but the frequency can be minimized.)  I also worry that if I allow my DD to eat a food that may/may not be safe, it will damage her trust in me and my ability to keep her safe.  Children rely on their parents to keep them safe - that's our job. 

Anne

Amy,

Well I was going to say what Anne said so I won't! BUT I do want to say again what she said is soo very right!  Please be careful, as far as giving EPI won't hurt her AT ALL! and it can save her life!!

Katrina

Hi Amy!
Your post sounds like something I would have written a few months ago...Before my DD had an ana reaction (7/30) to a granola bar "processed in a facility that also processes peanuts".
I was a little loosey goosey in my comfort zone - didn't do plain m and m's, but we didn't worry so much about contact with peanut butter. I would eat something peanut during the day at work, and never think about it. My husband would eat peanuts after my DD went to bed. My DD had only had a "surface" reaction like you were mentioning - her reaction was mainly swollen eyes and runny nose...maybe red dots if she was kissed by someone who had eaten peanuts (Grandma!). We were just bee-bopping along with this peanut allergy - no big deal.

Well, anaphylaxis changed my life.

The granola bar not only caused ana reaction, it scared me and my family. It scared my DD so much that she now will not eat anything she finds suspicious (she's very funny about this). We no longer allow peanuts in our house. My husband and I do not eat peanuts any more - worried that she will drink after us or we will give her a bite of something later that we've had our mouths on. We read EVERY label for the "may contain" or "processed" warning. We also check all sweets online or call the company - as we've learned that sometimes they DON'T print it.

We also realized the Epi was not something to be afraid of - it will not hurt them if they don't "need" it. We learned that the risks that we took could hurt our daughter (or worse) and COST A LOT OF MONEY!!! One bag of M & M's can cost you hundreds of dollars in ER and doctor bills!

Seriously, I think I needed that reality check. It changed the way I view my DD's allergy...and changed the way others view her allergy.
But, I totally understand your comfort zone and your fear of giving the Epi if it's not needed - I felt the same way - before.

I don't want to freak you out - but all those little reactions you might not even see lead up to the big one. I second all the things Anne posted about having a plan and being ready - last school year my DD's class made mud-pies with peanut butter and it didn't even phase me (she had something else). This school year, I would have a heart attack if they had peanut butter in the classroom!

Take care and don't ever be afraid to use the epi-pen.
hope this helps!!!
Stephanie