Peanut Allergy is the most prevalent food allergy in the US, where as many as 1.5 million people suffer from the disease (American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology). Peanut Allergy is the most common cause of food related death (Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America).
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My two year old son was just diagnosed with a PA. He probably was exposed to peanuts about 15 times before he had his first reaction. His first exposure to peanuts happen after he turned one. This went on for about 8 months. Then he ate something with peanuts and acted funny, by playing with his tongue. So, after that incident I tried to keep him away from peanuts for while, but two weeks later he did have a reaction. He got hives, his eyes watered, and had a running nose. So I took him into the doctor they give him a epi shot. He was fine. He hasn't had any problems since, thank god.
My question is this normal, for somebody to have been expose to a food and not react for months. Plus my he seems to do fine with any foods that doesn't have peanuts in it. He can eat plain M&M's, but not the peanut kind. So I just look for foods that don't have peanuts in the ingredients, not to see if the label says may have trace amounts or processed in plant that also processed peanuts.
Does this mean he has a chance of out growing is allergy or not have such a severe reaction.
My son does have eczema, which he has had since 6 months of age. So I was thinking, if he out grows his eczema, then he might out grow the PA. Please help!!!!
What happens is that the body can only take so much,perse, then reacts to the allergen. My son is allergic to penicillin but had the first reaction the second time it was prescribed. Also, eczema is a sign of allergies. It may be that your son's reaction merely made the eczema worse but you did not notice it. Sorry to say, my son had eczema as a baby, he is now 5 years old, but tested positive to peanuts one year ago. I suggest you see an allergist. The doctor will put him on a "plan" and tell you to what extent he is allergic. My son gets tested once a year to check if he has outgrown some of his many allergies. So far he has outgrown egg allergy. Good luck
mayoung-you are asking many of the same questions each and every newly diagnosed parent of a food allergic child goes through. My heart goes out to you. I know it is all very confusing.
Yes-you can have exposure and then suddenly develop an allergy or even a more severe reaction. There are people who have eaten peanuts their entire life and have their first anaphylactic reaction at 35. No one knows why, it just happens.
While your son has not had a reaction to plain m&ms yet, it doesn't mean he won't. It's not a matter of how severe your son's peanut allergy is but of how much peanut protein makes it into that batch of m&m's.
Today their might not be any peanut protein. Tomorrow the lines may not be cleaned as well and there might be more and then your son might have a reaction.
I hope that makes sense.
As beli stated-if you have not already-you should see an allergist. No one here can tell you if your son has a chance of outgrowing. Allergies are so individual and they change over time.
The only thing you can do is prevent a reaction by avoiding peanuts and carry your epi-pen at all times.
Any other questions-feel free to ask.
Ruth