Are specific allergies genetic?

[Casey44]

DH is allergic to bananas but I was hoping to try giving DD some banana soon since it's such an easy thing to prepare, eat etc. We are leaving town in less than a week so I wanted to make sure she didn't have any reaction before we left. Then I could give it to her while we're out of town and keep it simple. I'm just worried about giving it to her... Now or while we're out of town really. DH said it made his throat swell. So just wondering if DD is more likely to be allergic to bananas or just more likely to have allergies in general because of DH? Or maybe this topic is debatable? If so I would live to hear explanations!

Thanks!

[scsigrl]

My understanding from talking to a few different Dr's is that if a parent has ANY allergy (food or environmental) a kid is 50/50 to having ANY allergies. DH and I both have seasonal allergies but no food allergies. We have 1 kid with a TON of allergies and one with none.


If you try it I would do it ASAP and in the early morning (breakfast) so you can watch all day for anything unusual. Also (this is debatable about first vs. second exposures) you need to try them at least 2 times (going on the assumption that the child has never come in contact with the allergen via breastmilk or any other source). If the kid is reactive, you may not see anything with the first try because that would be when the body becomes "allergic" to the fruit and the second time would be when you may see a reaction.

Good luck!

[sbgrace]

My understanding is you inherit a propensity toward allergy in general but not toward specific allergens or even specific types of reactions.

That said, your husband has throat swelling with banana and I wouldn't have it in my house let alone feed it to a child he might kiss! I'd certainly pick something else. Does he have an epi pen. Our policy on anaphylactic allergens here is none of them come in this house.

[kjbrown92]

Our allergist said the same thing. You inherit the tendency to allergies, not specific allergies. That being said, both DH and DD1 are allergic to cats. And DH and DS are allergic to grass.

[mama1803]

Originally Posted by sbgrace

My understanding is you inherit a propensity toward allergy in general but not toward specific allergens or even specific types of reactions.

That said, your husband has throat swelling with banana and I wouldn't have it in my house let alone feed it to a child he might kiss! I'd certainly pick something else. Does he have an epi pen. Our policy on anaphylactic allergens here is none of them come in this house.

Yes to everything above!

We have the same policy on anaphylactic allergens. My ds has an anaphylactic to peanuts and my dh is a peanut fanatic. We do not allow peanuts (still trying to get MIL to understand this 6 years after diagnosis) into our home and if dh consumes peanuts outside the home he changes his clothes, washes his face and brushes his teeth before having any contact with ds.

Given your husband's reaction to bananas, you also have to worry about exposure for him, not just baby.

[Casey44]

Hmmm... Well DH had the throat swelling happen once when he was younger and he hasn't had bananas since. He does occassionally drirnk those Naked smoothies which have banana in them and he has had no reaction. I also keep bananas in the house and pretty much eat one a day! DH has handled them with no reaction. Is this a good sign? We had no idea we should be so careful about his exposure to bananas. But then again he is now questioning if he's even allergic since the smoothies don't bother him?

This makes me really nervous though with DD. What kind of things would I look for as far as a reaction! (Im not sure I will give her banana but we'll see.)

Also, we gave her a tiny bit of avocado yesterday off of our finger. Once in the morning and a little at dinner. Do we need to stick with only avocado now for the next few days to rule out any allergy? I don't know if it was coincidense or what, but she was up ALL night last night screaming and wanting to nurse, which is very unlike her. She is right at 6 months so I guess it's a growth spurt? I was just worried if the avocado did something that was bothering her? She seems fine this morning but mommy definitely is not!

Thanks for your help!

[Casey44]

Oh, and I should mention that the avocado she had yesterday was her first try at solids EVER. That's why I thought it might be related to the crazy sleeping, but maybe not?

[BirthKathy]

This food introduction method has been very helpful to me.

http://www.allergynutrition.com/reso...g%20solids.pdf

Bananas have been a very helpful addition to my son's diet. They're so easy to take with us. It sound like your husband may have outgrown his reaction to banana.