Son had hives, sneezing(new here)

Having a peanut allergy is not a death sentence. I was diagnosed when I was 27 years old and am now 59.

It is true that you have to maintain viligance over your diet to avoid the peanut protein. I try to look at it from the positive side: I am not eating junk all the time instead I eat fresh meat, fruit and vegetables. (I lost 60 lbs giving up the junk).

Also, compared to 10 years ago there are numerous websites where you can order peanut free candies, food mixes etc.

There also are desensitizing programs throughout the US now. I have a friend whose son had a severe milk allergy who can now drink a 8 oz glass of milk every day. His program was in Dallas but there is now a new program in Des Moines.

Please get rid of all peanut products in your house so there is no risk of cross contamination. And please get your son to an allergist for testing as soon as possible.

Be positive!

Not to scare you, but never think a peanut allergy is mild. I have always made a pretty big deal out of it and people have always thought I was crazy because of the big deal I made out of it because my daughter had not had any super bad reactions...but her test levels on the Rast were greater than 100 which would possibly indicate a terrible allergy. In october she was life flighted from my local hospital to the childrens hospital from a reaction. Her previous reactions epi was administered as well as benedryl and she was observed but this reaction was BAD. I watched my child slowly drown on the swelling of her throat, while the emergency staff worked to save her life. It seemed like days but after an hour of trying to figure out why the IV epi and the other drugs were not working they had to intubate her because she was in full respritory arrest and they were gonna lose her airway. They spent another hour trying to stabllize her so they could fly her to the childrens hospital. They had to use the ambu-bag that whole time, then for another 2 hours at the childrens hospital. Even after 2 of waiting for her contition at the childrens hospital the doctor said she was a sick little girl and they were gonna do all they could do for her and that might include a heart lung bypass machine. She ended up being on a ventilator in a medical coma for 7 day, and she made a good recovery. I will never forget Ovtober 21,2011. It is the day that could have changed my life. And now people take me seriously when I say peanuts can kill.

sorry about the type errors.

Thank You,

I guess what I was wondering- if someone test low on the RAST can they still have a life threatening episode? We have an appointment coming up soon to have him tested. Even if he does test low, we plan to treat it as severe.

thats what I would do, our allergist said that no allergy test should be treated as fact and that clinical reactions are what matters. And considering that childhood peanut allergies tend to have increased reaction after each exposure it is probably good practice just to think of it as a potentially life threatening condition....in my opinion.

So we brought him in for his first test.
Dr. Factor in Connecticut(anyone know if hes good?)

He tested positive for Cat, mild Dog and Peanut. No tree nuts, but were not sure of any prior exposure.

His reaction was mild, but we need to get a blood test to determine severity. Getting rid of the cat, as his Asthma is also an issue.

This sucks. Wife is crying in the middle of night. Hopefully it gets a little less stressful.

The doctor runs a desensitization clinic in Ct, so we may do that when son is old enough.