I was told by someone that their child had outgrown their PA. I asked for details, and found out that this child was only tested positive to peanuts on a skin prick test...never had any real contact with them (testing was done after reaction to another food).
Fast forward a couple of years, they are retesting, and now this child is negative on SPT, and CAP RAST (I am not sure if CAP RAST was done with initial testing). Food challenge shows child no longer has PA.
While I am thrilled for the family that they no longer have this issue to deal with, I can't help but be skeptical. Since this child never had any contact with actual peanuts until the food challenge, and going on the assumption that the child was only given a SPT during the initial testing, is it possible that the initial test result was a false positive, and thus the child has not actually "outgrown" anything? I've heard/read that the SPT does have a history of giving a lot of false positives.
I hope you don't think I'm being a stick in the mud. As a PA Mom, I don't want to see anyone go through this. But, I don't want to give myself false hope that one more child has outgrown their PA, when perhaps the child never really had the allergy to begin with. What are your thoughts? Do I have reason to be skeptical, or am I just being a moron about this? lol
I guess it's possible they had an initial false positive. However, the great news is there is no allergy. Wow!
It could also have been a true positive and complete avoidence (as I have read) increases the chance of outgrowing the allergy.
I can't remember when I didn't have to worry about every single ingredient in every single bite of food. DS (age 11) is going to get re-tested next week. I've got my hopes up that he will test negative and have the food challenge and be given the all clear. If he hasn't outgrown it by now, then (as I have read) he won't ever. I'm still hoping and praying and watching every bite...
I like hope....
Thanks, Bridget