What can i do? regarding my dairy allergy kid ingesting dairy...

[hollytheteacher]

I decided to "test" ds's dairy allergy.

Up until he was 8 months old I could not have ANY in my diet or it affected him through my milk.

He is now 16 months and still nursing but I am able to eat it and it doesn't seem to affect him.

Today i decided to test if maybe, just maybe, he could eat dairy now too. I offered him a small lick of my milkshake.

Big mistake His cheeks turned bright red, he immediately got a rash all over his chest and within the last hour he has become kind of congested as well.
Also, it is now 10:50 and he is wide awake (which is not normal for him, he usually conks out at 8).

My question is, other than nurse as much as possible, is there anything special i can do to flush the dairy out of his poor little system. I'm feeling like a big bad mommy for doing this to him

[hollytheteacher]

bump

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[waluso]

Are these the same symptoms your DS had when he reacted through breastmilk? Reactions through breastmilk are generally (or always?) intolerances, but I would be concerned with the immediate reaction that it could be an IgE allergy. I do not have direct experience with IgE reactions but I would watch him closely. I know some people use benadryl for IgE reactions. If he gets hives or has any trouble breathing I would go to the ER. If it's just an intolerance others have had success with using Gripe Water, although it doesn't seem to help my DD any. We just have to wait it out. And don't feel like a bad mom, you didn't know how he would react! We have all been in those situations and it doesn't help to beat yourself up. Good luck!

[momofmine]

With that tiny amount of ingestion, and that immediate of a reaction, I would definitely cut it all out completely, every last trace of it out of your diet now too. Even trace amounts. My child reacted through my breast, milk to his IgE, but not nearly as bad as when he directly ingested it himself (by accident). I would get it all out for now, and keep it out for a long time. They say the gut does not really close until around age 5.

[WuWei]

That is a very severe and immediate reaction to such a small amount of dairy. I'd get an Epipen, as dairy is hard to avoid completely.

Here is a link about hidden sources of dairy. http://www.kellymom.com/store/handou...dden-dairy.pdf

Was this a homemade milkshake and you know all the ingredients? Or was it a commercial "milkshake"? Most processed "milkshakes" have corn syrup in them. Corn is a very common allergen also.




Pat

[Chinese Pistache]

Originally Posted by waluso

Are these the same symptoms your DS had when he reacted through breastmilk? Reactions through breastmilk are generally (or always?) intolerances, but I would be concerned with the immediate reaction that it could be an IgE allergy. I do not have direct experience with IgE reactions but I would watch him closely. I know some people use benadryl for IgE reactions. If he gets hives or has any trouble breathing I would go to the ER. If it's just an intolerance others have had success with using Gripe Water, although it doesn't seem to help my DD any. We just have to wait it out. And don't feel like a bad mom, you didn't know how he would react! We have all been in those situations and it doesn't help to beat yourself up. Good luck!

Naking so, not much time, but this is definitely not true. They can be either kind of response. The baby is ingesting a food protein, regardless of whether it comes via breastmilk or from a spoon.

[WuWei]

Originally Posted by Chinese Pistache

Naking so, not much time, but this is definitely not true. They can be either kind of response. The baby is ingesting a food protein, regardless of whether it comes via breastmilk or from a spoon.

I agree, a baby could have/develp an IgE response through breastmilk. At least that is my understanding.

I DO wonder if it is actually an IgE response, OR inadequately digested proteins, to which a baby reacts directly though. For instance, would most babies react to whole dairy proteins directly, due to an immature gut? Would/could that reaction develop into an IgE response with repeated direct exposures? Especially without the probiotics inherent in breastmilk.

Personally, I believe, from everything I've read and seen, that all baby's guts (immune systems) are damaged by early direct exposure to whole proteins in dairy as babies. Other whole proteins, like rice, maybe not. But, the large proteins which are difficult to digest, like dairy, corn, soy, wheat, I don't believe our stomach/guts are evolved to digest them at a very young age, ie. before 6-12 months, minimum.


Pat

[waluso]

Originally Posted by Chinese Pistache

Naking so, not much time, but this is definitely not true. They can be either kind of response. The baby is ingesting a food protein, regardless of whether it comes via breastmilk or from a spoon.

This is good to know. I asked this question a while ago and the response was that it was an intolerance if through breastmilk and I couldn't find research on it either way. But it makes sense that it could be either.

[Chinese Pistache]

Originally Posted by WuWei

I agree, a baby could have/develp an IgE response through breastmilk. At least that is my understanding.

I DO wonder if it is actually an IgE response, OR inadequately digested proteins, to which a baby reacts directly though. Which I guess would be the difference between an IgE response and a protein intolerance response (allergic colitis)-but that isnt' well-defined, imo.For instance, would most babies react to whole dairy proteins directly, due to an immature gut? Would/could that reaction develop into an IgE response with repeated direct exposures? I personally think this is what happens. It might not start as IgE (so many babies have gastro responses FIRST), but it could develop into IgE. We know that sensitization can occur at any time, and at that point, with a damaged gut and a supply of undigested foreign proteins, it makes sense. That's why I'm hoping for my ds, that catching it as THIS stage (puking, diarrhea) he won't develop a true IgE like my dd did. Especially without the probiotics inherent in breastmilk.

Personally, I believe, from everything I've read and seen, that all baby's guts (immune systems) are damaged by early direct exposure to whole proteins in dairy as babies. Other whole proteins, like rice, maybe not. But, the large proteins which are difficult to digest, like dairy, corn, soy, wheat, I don't believe our stomach/guts are evolved to digest them at a very young age, ie. before 6-12 months, minimum. Yes, I agree. In fact, I wish I would have come to this conclusion before so I wouldn't have consumed any of these while nursing.


Pat

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[hollytheteacher]

Originally Posted by WuWei

That is a very severe and immediate reaction to such a small amount of dairy. I'd get an Epipen, as dairy is hard to avoid completely.

Here is a link about hidden sources of dairy. http://www.kellymom.com/store/handou...dden-dairy.pdf

Was this a homemade milkshake and you know all the ingredients? Or was it a commercial "milkshake"? Most processed "milkshakes" have corn syrup in them. Corn is a very common allergen also.




Pat

No it was a homemade milkshake with organic ben and jerry's ice cream and local organic whole cows milk (although it was pasteurized).

As for his reactions before, they consisted of bloody poop, mucousy nose, lots of digestive pain/writhering (when he was a tiny baby). But once i reintroduced dairy to myself at 8 months it did not bother him anymore (through bm). But i guess he still isn't okay with it in his system directly.

I was wondering that, regarding the epi pen...because of the rash part. I think that means that the allergy can be more serious? is that right. Hmmm. He slept horribly last night, still has mucousy sounding breathing, had some awful smelling gas, but seems to be in good spirits and his rash is mostly gone.

[WuWei]

CP, my understanding is the whole process of the baby "learning" what is foreign protein, what is "normal" begins at birth. When we intentionally ADD foreign proteins at birth, what does that do to the developing immune system? Plus, our antibiotics at birth messes up the sterile gut...permanently.

Happened to my mom at my birth, thus happened to me; and then happened to ds at birth. What "progress" we make with science helping us to birth.

Fortunately, we exclusively nursed with a restricted diet for over a year. Avoided the food intolerances through my breastmilk until age two. Then weaned and started homeopathy. Since then, ds has tolerated all of those foods which I couldn't eat, while nursing. Until recently. I'm pondering what has changed, at age 7.

Pat

[WuWei]

Originally Posted by hollytheteacher

No it was a homemade milkshake with organic ben and jerry's ice cream and local organic whole cows milk (although it was pasteurized).

As for his reactions before, they consisted of bloody poop, mucousy nose, lots of digestive pain/writhering (when he was a tiny baby). But once i reintroduced dairy to myself at 8 months it did not bother him anymore (through bm). But i guess he still isn't okay with it in his system directly.

I was wondering that, regarding the epi pen...because of the rash part. I think that means that the allergy can be more serious? is that right. Hmmm. He slept horribly last night, still has mucousy sounding breathing, had some awful smelling gas, but seems to be in good spirits and his rash is mostly gone.

I assume vanilla B&J? And it was organic, correct?

Each subsequent exposure to an IgE allergen has a more severe reaction. The body "learns" how to react more quickly with the antibodies which cause the immune response. I'd get an Epi-pen.

The immediacy of the reaction is significant. I'd call your ped in the morning. And ask for an Epi-pen or referral to an allergist. Not a separate 'come see the ped' visit-waste of time, imo. Or just call and make an appointment with a pediatric allergist directly, if you can (insurance-wise).

He is on No antacids, I assume?

Did you use any artificial vanilla or sugar added to it? Wondering about any other ingredient exposure risks, or contamination.


Pat

[earthmama4]

My oldest son (12) has severe IgE allergic reactions to nuts and eggs. We treat with benadryl liquid (the clear version) and watch him, unless breathing is affected (wheezing) or his tongue or throat are swelling (airway), then we do the epi-pen injection followed by the benadryl and then head to the ER. Often times the ER doctors prescribe a mild oral steroid (like prednisone) and a 24 hr antihistamine (like Zyrtec) for him to take for a few days while the allergen processes out of his system.

I admit its not the most natural approach and does require some medical intervention, but I take his reactions seriously as they are life-threatening. This has alway worked - he feels fine even just a few hours later and has never had to stay in the hospital. If you are ok with over-the-counter meds, I would get some benadryl to have on hand for immediate reactions, and some Zyrtec (now available over the counter) to give for 2-3 days after a reaction (check with the ped for the dosage for your child) . And I would also get a Rx for an epi-pen jr. Please know that an epipen injection just buys you time to get to the ER - its not the final step. Your child will then need to be taken to the hospital.

Hopefully you will not ever get to that step - BUT its important to know that allergies are not predictable and that something that gives a rash today could affect breathing tomorrow. My DS started by just getting hives around his mouth after a pb&j sandwich. Within two years, despite vigilant dietary restrictions, his accidental exposures required an epipen and ER visit. But we carried that epi-pen around for two years before we ever had to use it. Its better to be prepared and never have to use it.

Also keep in mind that anytime more than one body system (skin, gastro-intestinal, respiratory, circulatory) is reacting - that is anaphylaxis. So if the child has hives (skin) and vomiting (gastro-intenstinal) that is anaphylaxis and requires a more serious approach than just say, a skin rash. That helped me gauge my response to his allergic reactions. It is easier when they are older and can tell you "my chest hurts" or "my tongue feels itchy". With a 16 month old, I would err on the side of caution. JM2C!

[kjbrown92]

It sounds like it could have been either an allergy (IgE) or an intolerance (IgG). And from my understanding, they can actually have both. If it were me, and it was such an immediate rash, I'd get the IgE/allergy testing to rule it out (so that I could get an epipen, if it is, in fact, an allergy).

Gripe water helps my kids when they ingest something they shouldn't (whether I'm testing them on it or they get it accidentally). It's fennel, chamomile, ginger, and a little baking soda. Other people have recommended Vitamin C, but I haven't found a safe one yet, so I haven't tried it, and I don't know how much.