Asthma and allergies

<p>Nicole,</p>
<p>I have never read of any clear connection between peanut allergy and asthma. There is a definite connection between asthma and inhalant allergies. My 4 year old has just begun allergy injections for his inhalant allergies as my allergist wants to protect him as well as he can from "getting" asthma. So far he does not have it and, according to my allergist, continual assualt on the bronchial area due to allergies will trigger the asthma eventually.<br />
Christine</p>

<p>Nicole,</p>
<p>I've had asthma all my life. I've always had it in 'spells'. I don't have it every single day. I have it several times a year sometimes after colds (not all), usually around Christmas or more stressful times. During these episodes I have to use albuterol inhalers every three hours and sometimes steroids. I am not at all allergic to peanuts. But I am allergic to cats and dogs. But I think my 2 year is allergic to peanuts. He shows no signs of asthma other than a slight rattle in his throat when he has some colds. I read alot on asthma and have never read a connection between peanuts and asthma. I have read though that it is like balancing a scale. I have read that you can handle several allergies fairly well, but one to many (stress,pollen, or food) can tip the scale where you get a full blown attack or asthma attack. I found this true with me. I would be fine handling the pollen etc., but everytime we switched to margarine instead of butter, I would have asthma. One day after switching back I'm fine. I tested this several times. I later read that margarine contains tartrazine (yellow #5). Finally, what I'm trying to say is there are alot of foods that can cause asthma. So if you son every develops it, look at what he is eating. A good list of foods (if you every need the list) are in the 'Asthma:Stop suffering Start Living book' by M.Gershwin.</p>
<p>Hope this helps,</p>
<p>Carol S.</p>
<p>[This message has been edited by Carol S (edited February 12, 1999).]</p>

<p>It is my understanding that allergies/asthma/hayfever/eczema are all related. I don't know that the "peanut allergy" would make someone more prone to asthma, but allergies in general might. Not that everyone that experiences one would necessarily experience all, but the tendendacy is greater in allergic people to experience asthma or eczema.</p>
<p>------------------<br />
Colleen</p>

<p>Hello everyone<br />
eczema,asthma ect are inter related, and if it runs in the family the risk of developing asthma is greater then a family with no history. I do not know the ratio of peanut/asthma relation. I have a daughter with seasonal environmental allergies(diagnosed asthmatic at 8 months old) rageed, ect...and a daughter with a severe peanut, and other food allergies who is not asthmatic.<br />
I would not worry execsively about what if, when the peanut allergy at present is your main concern.<br />
As with heart disease ect.. if it is in the family, the risk is increased, not a definate that one will be aflicted. I hope this has been helpful.<br />
Stay safe</p>

<p>Hi Nicole,</p>
<p>Most of the kids I know with peanut allergy also have asthma. Not to scare you, but if your child is in a bad asthma episode and there is a peanut ingestion, the reaction will be worse. This is because the airways are already twitchy from the asthma and then can go quite quickly into anaphylactic shock. I know this because this is what happened when our son was 5. We have managed to keep his asthma under control with daily breathing maintenance. He also has eczema. The allergist that you see for the peanut allergy can tell you more about asthma and if your child has it. </p>
<p>------------------<br />
Mary Kay</p>

<p>It is my understanding that asthma "declares itself" @ age 7. This is part of what is called the allergic cascade. Our daughter was diagnosed with asthma about that time. Prior to that her numerous respiratory problems were called reactive airway disease, probably aka asthma. Some signs & symptoms are cough, wheezing, increased respiratory rate, & a drop in peak flow meter readings. The peak flow meter is considered one of the most sensitive indicators for severity of asthma. Most children at about 5 years of age are able to use one. Guidelines for the treatment of asthma have been published by the NIH in '95 I believe & updated in '97. The NIH can send you a copy, for a fee, or you may be able to download them from there site. It is also interesting to note that many asthmatics have reflux disease, often asymptomatic, that can make there asthma worse. The National Jewish Hospital in Denver has a one week intensive workup/testing for asthmatics to get thru all the testing in a short period of time.</p>

Nicole,
I have a 3 year old son who is allergic to peanut and has asthma. We found out about the peanut allery when he was 8 months old.
We didn't know offically about the asthma until he was 2 years old. But they suspected that he may have had it all his life. But was being dignosed(sp?) as broncitis every few months.

Hi
I have had asthma since birth, as has my two year old son - although neither of us has a peanut allergy. We have what our allergist refers to as "seasonal allergies" which generally present the classic combination of asthma, eczema and hay fever. Here in Alberta, kids are not diagnosed as "asthmatic" until they are at least two or have had four episodes requiring a trip to emergency or hospitalization. My daughter, on the other hand, has instinctively avoided peanuts all her life and is anaphylactic - her only accidental contact resulted in vomiting. She has exercise-induced asthma and doesn't seem to have the combination with eczema and hay fever. By the way, I participated in a research study here last year where they are looking for the asthma gene - maybe the allergy one will be next!