Hi, new here with ?s on anaphylaxis prick testing

pHi all! I'm Karen, and have been surfing for info here since finding this site yesterday. My DS Jalen turned 2 in September and has multiple food environmental allergies, along with asthma, excema, and reflux. I have SO MANY questions, but will just post a couple today [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img] My son was originally tested in Feb of 2000 (prick test)after several severe reactions to milk. At that time, the peanut "prick" caused just a very slight reaction (Jalen had just had his very first taste of peanut butter 2 weeks before the test with no reaction).The allergist just told us to avoid peanut products until age 5. Now recently (end of November) he was skin-tested again, this time by a different allergist who was much more thorough with his testing and explanations, and had a HUGE reaction to peanut. I saw the big lumpy welt spreading across his back and said, "I bet that one was the milk, huh?" When the nurse said, "No, it's peanut," I just about passed out! The peanut bump was bigger than the one for milk, which he is severly allergic to. We have not given Jalen any peanut or nut products to our knowledge in the last year. How is it that he is more allergic to it now? I've never seen a reaction to peanut, but he never eats it either. Now I'm trying to learn all I can about peanut allergies and nut allergies (had a moderate reaction to tree nuts), since I know PA can be deadly. Can allergies get worse even when the child is not exposed to the allergen?/p
pMy second ?? is: What exactly is anaphylaxis? Jalen has had several severe reactions lately to milk. One incident that happened in November had us rushing him to the ER. Immediately after sneaking and drinking milk from his older brother's cereal bowl, Jalen started wheezing and coughing uncontrollably, then broke out in hives. On prior occasions when he got into a cheese cracker or something with milk as a "hidden" ingredient, he would display these symptoms, we'd give him Benadryl and his nebulizer, and he'd be ok. This time those meds had no effect. This was the first time he ever drank straight milk in his life. Well from there he began to cling to me, and his eyes looked "funny"--I can't describe it, but almost like they were starting to roll around or look dazed? Then this clear, yellowish stuff started pouring from his nose, his lips started to swell, then his airway started to close. All of this took place over 20 minutes or so. When DH finally rushed him out of the house to the ER (which thank the Lord is only 2 minutes from our house)he was struggling to breath and completely lethargic. I have never been so scared in all my life--just typing this is making my heart pound again. What I want to know is--is this anaphylaxis? He did not pass out or anything. At the ER he got epinephrine, several nebs, and a shot of steroid, and was sent home after a few hours as good as new. But I need to know, because I'm unsure as to at what point to administer the Epipen. We had another incident 2 weeks ago with MMs that he snuck and ate (we have lots of food-sneaking issues because of the reflux)and I wasn't sure whether to give him the Epipen or not. Our ped ended up telling us to give it to him, which makes the 2nd time he's gotten epinephrine in the last 2 months. Needless to say, my stress level has reached an all new high with this little one!/p
pAnyway, sorry to ramble on forever! I'm just trying to learn as much as I can. Our next allergy appt is next Monday, and I'll have an earful of questions for him too./p
pThanks,br /
Karen/p