Walnut Allergy

[Missani]

Okay, my second question of the day: I've been saving them up!

Dcd came in this morning and said that they spent 2 hours at urgent care last night with dcg 18 months. She had an allergic reaction to something at home last night and swelled immediately. Dcd had given her some walnuts (honey walnut cream cheese on a bagel), and that was the only thing she had eaten. Because walnuts (nuts) are highly allergenic, he is assuming that is what it was. The doctor agreed, gave her Benadryll, did "testing" (not sure exactly what they did, he didn't specify), watched her carefully and sent her home. She is totally fine today except for a tiny rash on one cheek. Dcd was very frightened by the incident and told me right away today.

I know there was a similar incident posted about peanuts recently. I also know that some people are allergic to all nuts, some just some nuts, and some just one particular type of nuts. This child, although she is young, eats peanut products/peanut butter regularly. Mom and dad introduced it about 15 months, she eats it almost daily at home, and I do give it to her here occasionally. I do not serve many "prepackaged" items that contain traces or nuts because I make almost everything myself. So, knowing she likely has a walnut allergy, what do I need to look out for? What other tree nuts or similar items should I refrain from feeding her (I can't think of anything other than peanut butter that would even contain traces of nuts)? What else do I look for? Any suggestions? I obviously will wait to find out what the testing unveils, but are there any precautions I should be taking in the meantime. I guess I don't even know, how commonly are walnuts in products? And, should I stop feeding her peanuts? I know they are nuts, but they are not the same.

[Cat Herder]

Ugh, IDK...... they are common tree nuts. Cribs are made from the tree's wood. I will have to research a bit before I can answer....::::::

Great question, though. Looking forward to learning more.

[GG~DAYCARE]

Did they give her an epipen for emergencies? I have a son who is allergic to peanuts and many other nuts as well. I would refrain from giving her any type of nuts until she had allergy testing done.

[ninosqueridos]

My son's allergist uses skin prick testing and he's allergic to peanuts AND tree nuts. The testing was split up and specific to each type of tree nut....there were so many positives, she just said NO TREE NUTS OR PEANUTS AT ALL.

The safest way is to stay away from all.....like you said, you prepare mostly everything yourself so avoiding prepackaged things that contain traces or processed in a facility with tree nuts or peanuts is the safest way to go.

It takes two seconds to read a label and products will be clearly marked for peanuts and tree nuts...and then will also be marked if the product is processed in a facility that also processes peanuts and tree nuts.

[Childminder]

My ex was allergic to walnuts and all tree nuts except almonds. Peanuts were not a problem cause they are a legume, a bean if you will. Almonds are from the same family as apricots, think of the pit, so was not an issue.

Ex had to stay away from fires, burning wood, watch out for slivers if handling lumber, sawdust - breathing and cutting wood, even paper cuts would cause a reaction and eating pesto(pine nuts).

He also was severely allergic to eggs, poultry and fish...so anything that swims or flies and and their by products like feather pillows or/and flu shots. Couldn't even cook fish or go into a restaurant that did. Either the vapors of it cooking or if he ate something that was cooked in the same grease or griddle could send him to the hospital.

Once he ate french fries at McD's and they had been cooked in the same grease as the fish fillets, he had a reaction. Ordered a Slim Jim from Big Boy w/o mayo and when it came with the mayo asked for a new one. They scraped it off and sent it back. If he had eaten it he would have had a reaction.

You're not interested in all this though. I just wanted to let you know that a child might not be allergic to something and be able to eat it or be around it for years. My son was fine until he was 3.5 and we had to make some fast changes. Change his diet; eggs, pickles, cheese and dried fruit had to go. The cat and dog - banished. He was in 5th grade when he had an allergic reaction that was so severe he was taken to the hospital. Turned out it was mango but we didn't know that until 25 years later and he ate some at a party.

There is so much more testing and medications than when my ex was little. He spent weeks at UofM medical trying to get him figured out. My son had testing and treatments that his dad never heard of and this little dcg of yours has many more resources to get her on the right track.