Shan, I just read through all these messages. You've been given a lot of great advice!! Our allergist told us that our son's reaction to the peanut skin test was so bad he considers it to be rare. We suspected the allergy at 15 months, and he was tested and confirmed at 18 months. Our allergist told us to give him the Epi/Benedryl even if we only SUSPECT that he ate something with peanuts. He said that waiting to see what kind of reaction he had would be a bad idea. Give the Epi/Bene, then head to the ER, give another Epi if the hospital is more than 15 mins. away. As far as I'm concerned, it's life and death, and waiting is death for my son. I recently took a child CPR class because I thought it might help. The technician told me that once the airway is swelled shut, CPR will not help. You cannot be TOO safe. My son cannot have a safe cookie that has touched an unsafe cookie, and he even reacts to the smell of peanuts. His first reaction was vomitting, and his second was vomitting and wheezing, and those were just after a tiny lick of peanut butter! He never showed any outward sign, such as hives. I have heard, and was told by the Dr. that each reaction gets worse. It is a frightening thing to have to deal with... again, don't ever think you're being TOO safe. There is no such thing!! About the rash, as I said, our son never got hives, but his reaction to the skin test was the size of a 50 cent piece, and it stayed on his back for at least a week. I was talking to someone about the whole situation just after we found out about it, and mentioned the epinephrine injection. This person told me that she had to use one before and that it made her shake all over - almost seisure-like. I'm glad she told me, because if that would happen without my knowing, I would probably freak out! Has anyone experienced this kind of reaction? We haven't had to use the Epi/Bene yet - Thank God!! Take care, Shan, and keep up with this site - it's wonderful!!

Shan - To me the rash seems to last forever. SORRY! Of course it doesn't really it just seems that way because nothing I ever do seems to make it better except time.
Before we knew of Spencers terrible allergy to Eggs (and peanuts and soy), I would cook French Toast for my daughter and then touch him and cause a reaction. Because at first it was just a rash (and I was so inexperienced in this area of parenting) I never caught on that I was causing it to happen. The rash seemed to last for weeks and then I would make French Toast again and it would start all over.
I feel the pain in your e-mails over your decisions. I have done that to myself for three years over my daughters kidney problems and it has gotten me nothing but bad nerves and a stomach ache. Before she was born I would blaim myself by saying that surely I did something wrong during my pregnancy and then after she was born I only got harder on myself. You are a GREAT MOM and doing everything you can for your child.
Keep your chin up!
Kelly

Hi Shan,
I understand your dissapointment over the positive reaction. Our son had a negative CAP RAST (blood) test 2 years after his reactiona and positive skin test. Our allergist won't even consider oral challenge until two skin tests are completely negative. Our hopes were way up and then he reacted to the second skin test.
We have been told to give the Epi, benadryl and prelone (steroid) immediately if he ingests peanuts. You never know how long is too long to wait. We use Zyrtec for animal allergies but benadryl for food reaction. Our son doesn't seem to have any side effects from the Zyrtec and you only give one dose every 24 hours. I gave him the Epi once for a very mild reaction. He was absolutely fine, I however was a wreck. The major side effects of Epi affect adults more than children according to the drug insert, our Pedi and our allergist. We have been assured that it will do no harm to give it even if it's not needed. We have been told to repeat it after 15 minutes if the reaction is worsening. It's also important to have at least two epi pens on hand in case one malfunctions. Our son was prescribed the epi pen jr at 1 year old and I know several other people who have also been given them for children around 20 pounds.
Good luck!
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Valerie

Hi Tammy and all,
My son's skin test reaction was also off the charts according to our allergist (also about the size of a half dollar). We were told to give the benadryl/epipen combination when suspected pnt ingestion has incurred.
As far as the fear of reaction from the epinephrine, I will tell you that my son who was fifteen months old at the time received two epinephrine injections in about a one hour time frame during his first and only exposure, and I did not notice ANY adverse side affects. Based on this experience, I will not hesitate nor be afraid to administer the epi when I need to.
Good luck and Stay Safe

Shan:
I just want to add one more comment. The epipen may hurt a little bit to give her, but it has no major side effects and will not actually hurt her long term. No hospital is going to criticize you or reject you for taking a child with a known anaphylactic allergy to emergency for observation after an exposure to peanuts - but if you don't use the epipen and decide to wait and see how bad the reaction is it may end up being too late! Because of this, I have decided that with my daughter if she does not eat peanuts but touches them I will try using benadryl but have the epipen ready and still go the emergency. If she actually eats or licks anything she gets the epipen and goes to emergency. I feel better taking her to a hospital so that if things get worse they can respond more quickly.
One more note - my daughter goes to daycare, and the policy for them is any exposure (even if it is just touch) and she gets the epipen and goes to emergency. I don't want them having to observe, wait and see how bad it gets, etc. It is easier to just say use the epipen and go to emegency. I use this rule for babysitters too.
Remember - you can't be too careful!

Shan,
I haven't been using the computer for a while and I just read your post at parentsoup. And now I have read all these posts and I am crying too. Your poor baby.
Holly
ps for Kelly Morse
I read your post where you mention using Benadryl several times a week. I live in England so please correct me if I have missunderstood but Benadryl is basically an antihistamine syrup right? I ask because a friend of mine recently visited their allergist and was told to save her daughter's Piriton (a UK brand pediatric anti-histamine) for serious reactions. The suggestion was that if it was used too often for minor reactions it would not be as effective in an emergency. I have not heard this anywhere else but I thought I should mention it.

Benadryl acts faster than Zytrec.
Zytrec is longer-acting than Benadryl.
Give Benadryl first.
These are two different drugs and you can use both at the same time but give Benadryl first ( it should act within 10-15 mintues, Zytrec takes up to 1 hour to act).