What does this sound like to you? (possible allergy?)

[jenniepaige]

Ok, so a little back ground.
Logan is almost 8 months and so far he has had 3 ear infections and croup with strider as well as numerous colds with runny noses, cough, sneezing, all that. He also frequently runs low grade temperatures and has a severe case of diaper rash that's been going on now for over 2 weeks complete with three doctor trips and two prescriptions for it.
He also has frequent diarrhea (has it now)
He also frequently has mild to severe bright red cheeks and neck that sometimes spreads to his ears and is often hot to the touch.
He is also constantly fussy, short-tempered, drools ALL THE TIME and still spits up. He will take a break from the frequent spitting up then start doing it again for no apparent reason. (used to have to take zantac but didn't help much) He was colicky as a newborn too.
So, by reading all that-mind you he's not even 8 months old do you think that it's just all a coincidence or do you think he may possible have some sort of allergy? Oh and he is bottle fed if that makes a difference. But acted the same way before switching over to formula.
Thank you so much for reading all that!!

[springmum]

All the extra mucous & ear infections sound like dairy to me.

Is eating any solids?

Could you switch to a dairy free formula? It would take a few weeks to clear his system, but it would help you know if it's a dairy issue.

[kjbrown92]

Is he on a milk-based formula? I'd say it sounds like an intolerance. The only way to know for sure is to remove whatever it is from his diet. Now you just have to figure out what "it" is (dairy is #1, but there's also soy, gluten [if he's on solids], corn, etc.).

[jenniepaige]

For some reason I wasn't getting the notice that anyone replied-weird.
Thanks for the response. He is on a milk based formula and does eat some solids. Mostly bread, cherios, teething buscuits and some whole milk yougurt and other things that we may be eating. He loves to eat and cries and cries if its around and he's not getting any.
I am thinking I would like to have him tested but its so hard to convince DH of ANYTHING that doesn't come out of the doctors mouth and I feel like I'm fighting a loosing batle with them. It's so frustrating! I am thinking more and more that it is a dairy thing. I thought of switching to soy formula but heard that a lot of people that are sensitive to dairy are also sensitive to soy too.

[kortner]

I agree on the dairy, but that doesn't mean it's not soy too, or wheat, or gluten, or....(my little one has the red cheeks as a food reaction too). The ear infections and mucous do sound like dairy though. I would try eliminating dairy for a month and see if it helps. It takes 2-4 weeks to clear dairy out of your little one's system.

Unfortunately, it may not be easy to find a HCP who will consider food intolerance. For those under two, testing is extremely unreliable. My pediatrician said she found the testing useless because she already knew what her son reacted to. The only reliable way is to try and see, and even then it is sometimes hard to tell. Good luck!!!

[LaurieG]

Absolutely it sounds like allergies/ intolerance to me too. Now the question is to what. Since he's not BF'ing and is only 8 months I might be tempted to go straight to a top 8 free diet and hash it out from there. A hypoallergenic formula like Nutramigen might be a good start, although there are babies who can't tolerate those either (something to keep in the back of your mind if he doesn't seem to improve).

I would agree - don't bother with allergy testing yet. It it unlikely to give you much useful information.

[kjbrown92]

My DS was dairy/soy intolerant, and couldn't tolerate Nutramigen. He was on Neocate when he weaned (8 months old), with a prescription from a gastroenterologist (insurance paid for it, luckily, since it's ridiculously expensive). For a little while, while you're figuring out the food that he's reacting to, it would probably be beneficial if you all went on the elimination (at least while he's awake) if you don't want to listen to him crying for the food that you're having.

[jenniepaige]

Well we went and had his blood drawn to test for the most common allergies. They think its eczema on his face. He gets the red bumps that come and go on his low back/bottom area too. They said that it was pretty accurate after 3 months so at least its a starting point. I guess, depending on how it comes out (get the results early next week) I will see if I need any further testing. Anyone done the allergy care center thing? Looks like they test for ALL kinds of allergies/sensitivities. I just don't want to subject him to all that if this will do the trick.
You guys had any luck in just the regular test? IgE I think it is?