Allergist casually says \"i\'ll look into cross reactivity\' in the next TWO WEEKS!

Theres a good website, someones gotta have the link, otherwise, ill post it form work from Calgary Allergy website, showing botanical names, and x-reactive.

Yes, mango and cashew are the same family and if allergic to one COULD be allergic to another.. no guarantee.

Also, check out OAS for mango. just google that.

Jason

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[b]* Obsessed * [/b]

[url="http://www.calgaryallergy.ca/Articles/English/botanical.htm"]http://www.calgaryallergy.ca/Articles/English/botanical.htm[/url]

I know that if you are allergic to mango you must also watch for latex, banana and avocado. Also, a good article came out about 2 months ago that noted cashew allergy being very high for ana reactions. Not good news but at least you know.

Since I'm in the posting mood:

The diabetics in my family go to a dietician; their specialty is the chemistry of food. A dietician can explain the break down of a peanut including its development & how it affects on the body.

The allergist is a doctor; basically diagnosing & treating the symptoms. (No offense to any medical personnel that happen to be reading). EX: my dd is confirmed as PA & NA, the allergist tells us keep that stuff away from her & prescribes an Epi, and can tell us how the body might react, but not why the body reacts.

As my pediatrician always use to say, "Moms more often know more about whatever their child suffers from than doctors." I believe this to be true, because I'm driven by maternal extinct to learn about whatever ails my children.

[This message has been edited by RastaPasta (edited April 08, 2006).]

I've found that allergists whose specialty is asthma are often ignorant of food allergies. Her response of "come bck in 2 weeks" was likely code talk for "give me time to read up on it".

Basically you have the same research available to you that the allergist has. He has no secret place he goes to for answers. When you come back you tell HIM what you found out.

I think food allergies are a disease of education. And the education is largely up to us the mothers, fathers and those allergic.

Cross reactivities are odd and any allergist might not be able to just pluck them out of his mind. It takes research and he has a roster of patients to see. That's why it is our responsibility to be smart consumers and find this stuff out ourselves.

When my son saw this BIG allergist at Children's Hospital this Winter he BOWLED the doctor OVER with the amount of information about his allergy that he had. My son is 21 and we have been teaching him forever. That's it... Period. No doctor taught him. I did.

You have time you'll get there.

Peg

Interesting. Someone just emailed me about this thread, because I had recently seen dd`s allergist over this very issue. I had some itching of my mouth after eating mango. It took me four years to find time to go in, since I always have epis for dd and had never heard of death from mango anaphylaxis I wasn`t too worried. Then I had to see him over something else, so I made an apt and brought up this mango issue. He immediately said that mango cross reacts with cashew and pistachio. He cap rasted me for all three and all three came back negative. But he did know what mango cross reacts with and I didn`t.

Quote:Originally posted by RastaPasta:
[b]The allergist is a doctor; basically diagnosing & treating the symptoms. (No offense to any medical personnel that happen to be reading). EX: my dd is confirmed as PA & NA, the allergist tells us keep that stuff away from her & prescribes an Epi, and can tell us how the body might react, but not why the body reacts.

[/b]

I disagree, in theory, at least. A doctor's education should have a significant portion of [i]pathophysiology[/i]. I'm a nurse and it was a critical portion of my education as well. That said, one could probably chase a rabbit through inumerable holes during an finite appointment. KWIM?

Thanks for your responses all! I appreciate the info and the understanding. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]

Hey, it's better than the doctor giving you misinformation. She is willing to admit he doesn't know and look it up. Kudos to her. Doctors can't know everything and Mangos are not one of the top ten; she may have never encountered someone with a Mango allergy previously. Many doctors speak without really knowing, but she is willing to take the time and get you a good answer rather than just shoot off her lip and give you bad/dangerous advice. I am impressed with the doc.

Quote:Originally posted by lilpig99:
[b]We went to DD's allergist appt. on Monday. We had to report a possible mango reaction...significant tingling mouth after a couple of bites of it. Now I had already checked into the possibility of cross reactivity before the appt. My DD is severly cashew allergic and I found mango is indeed a part of the 'cashew family' and should be off limits to her.

When I told the allergist of her 'reaction', she said 'I will go check on cross-reactivity for tree nuts' and left the room. In the meantime, the nurse has DD do her PFT for her asthma and after a bit, the nurse comes back in to give us her asthma med prescription and orders to return in two weeks (due to a current asthma flare up). So I tell her the Dr. is looking into the cross reactivity of mango and tree nuts and I'd like to speak with her about her findings. So the Dr comes back in and casually says...'Yes I have to look into that, I will let you know next time' !!!! WTH? I understand she is not an 'pedicatric food allergist' but she is pediactric asthma and allergist specialist. Wouldn't she know this cross-reactivity stuff? It only took me a couple of minutes to find out online...why couldn't she take the time to do it? Good grief!

I dont know, maybe I am just venting here....I just think that kind of laid back attitude when it comes to my DD and her particularly bad cashew allergy is just unacceptable....argh!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for listening...

[/b]

Quote:Originally posted by ElleMo:
[b]Hey, it's better than the doctor giving you misinformation. She is willing to admit he doesn't know and look it up. Kudos to her. Doctors can't know everything and Mangos are not one of the top ten; she may have never encountered someone with a Mango allergy previously. Many doctors speak without really knowing, but she is willing to take the time and get you a good answer rather than just shoot off her lip and give you bad/dangerous advice. I am impressed with the doc.

[/b]

Points taken. Bu my beef is that if *I* could find out that mangoes and cashews cross react in *minutes* online, then why, after 40 minutes, was she not able to find any info for us, after all, if *I* were a doctor seeing a patient with an anaphylactic level food allergy, I would think that a *new* food allergy would be something serious enough to look into...say, right away, or with in the 40 minute scope of our visit there, or by the next day, or even two days at the *most*. But a casual 'i'll let you know in two weeks' seems like an 'i don't care' (ok maybe that was harsh) kind of attitude. Food allergies are not to be messed with! I wanted promptness, I still do.

I am sure the Dr was just very busy & didn't want to keep everyone waiting & they were likely sure that you could avoid mango for a small period. Their plan is likely to get as much useful info. for you then just a quick answer.

Have faith.

Quote:Originally posted by kkeene:
[b]I am sure the Dr was just very busy & didn't want to keep everyone waiting & they were likely sure that you could avoid mango for a small period. [/b]

I can avoid it for the next few years. Ick. [i]slimey, stringy, stuff[/i]. Smells sorta like sweet sweat.

2 things:

1) Big papi Makes a MEAN mango salsa from what I know (from commercials)

2) Mango goes good on grilled salmon [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]

Ann eats mangos like that without an issue [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img] Never a thought.

Jason

Quote:Originally posted by kkeene:
[b]I am sure the Dr was just very busy & didn't want to keep everyone waiting & they were likely sure that you could avoid mango for a small period. Their plan is likely to get as much useful info. for you then just a quick answer.

Have faith. [/b]

You are right...but I expect alot from doctors...whether that be frustrating or not for me.

Mangoes ARE slimy things aren't they...kinda gross in my opinion too....

my mother has developed an allergy to mangos in the past few years. She gets an awful itchy red rash all over her arms if she just touches them. This developed after someone gave her a BIG bunch of mangos and she cut them all up to freeze them. She is also VERY allergic to poison ivy and other related plants.

Pathophysiology
"Members of the Toxicodendron family contain substances in the sap called urushiols. Urushiols oxidize quickly when exposed to air and turn brown (as described in the test above). Once these substances contact the skin, they cause a rash of varying degrees. Persons with previous exposure to urushiols become sensitized to the substance, making re-exposure to the same or similar chemicals generate a more pronounced reaction and rash. This phenomenon, referred to as allergic contact dermatitis, can be quite debilitating. It has been estimated that 50 percent of the US population has been sensitized to poison ivy. People sensitized to Toxicodendron plants may react similarly to other members of the family. For example, cashews, mangos, and pistachios are common edible cousins of Toxicodendron. People sensitive to Toxicodendron should be cautious when consuming these foods. "

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Lalow
James 4 yrs, NKA
Ben 3 yrs, PA and MA and SA

Is your childs dr. "board certified" or just specializes in Allergies? This could be the difference in ALOT of medical knowledge.

My father is a Family practice & ER dr. who also specializes in Allergies. He know more then the average dr. about Allergies but it's still limited schooling.... Board Certified is what you really want if your dealing with a severe ana. allergy.

As for the dr. not stopping everything to look up info you could do in the same amount of time....who are you?? Hello?? Why is it more important for the dr. to do that ASAP then see other sick patients? Also, what is the big deal...if you can do it too?

I think your expectations of your dr. are not realistic. Obviously there's no reason why you can't just avoid Mango for 2wks.

The dr. was professional and promised to get back to you. It sickens me to hear you rag so harshly on someone that has already and is doing stuff to help your child.

Quote:Originally posted by Mom2Sariah:
[b]Is your childs dr. "board certified" or just specializes in Allergies? This could be the difference in ALOT of medical knowledge.

My father is a Family practice & ER dr. who also specializes in Allergies. He know more then the average dr. about Allergies but it's still limited schooling.... Board Certified is what you really want if your dealing with a severe ana. allergy.

As for the dr. not stopping everything to look up info you could do in the same amount of time....who are you?? Hello?? Why is it more important for the dr. to do that ASAP then see other sick patients? Also, what is the big deal...if you can do it too?

I think your expectations of your dr. are not realistic. Obviously there's no reason why you can't just avoid Mango for 2wks.

The dr. was professional and promised to get back to you. It sickens me to hear you rag so harshly on someone that has already and is doing stuff to help your child.[/b]

DD's allergist is board certified in Pediatric and Adult Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

I was surprised you felt I was ragging on the Dr. so harshly. Believe me, if I wanted to be harsh I would have. I am irritated that when she told me she was going to go (right then and there) and look up cross-reactivities...I expected her to do it. Period. Not to come back to the exam room after 40 minutes with nothing to say. Three members of our family see this woman and I expect alot of her. Maybe I shouldn't, but I do.

And, of course I am smart enough to know to avoid mango for 2 weeks.

There are oodles...oodles of nurses there. Who all seem to have the time to pop in our exam room for 10 minute chats, to hold my little one and walk him around the office...to bring dd juice boxes, etc. If she was unable to , I think she should have asked a nurse to find out the info she went to look up for me, because she had to attend to other things. This is the most laid back office I have ever seen. THe pace is never frantic, so I have real doubts on whether or not there was anything pressing going on...but you never know, you may be right.

Sorry you didn't appreciate my vent. Didn't mean to 'sicken' you as you say.