Nut allergy? Red splotches all over body.

[lilgreen]

The other night ds3 (23 mos) had a piece of brownie that didn't have any visible pieces of nuts in it, but the brownies did.  I have refused to give any of our children any sort of nut until they're 3, but I gave in that night to dh's rant that I worry too much .

Anyways, about 20-30 minutes after he had the brownie, I took off his clothes for a bath and noticed he was bright red all over.  The red was gone, however, in another 5 minutes. The only thing we can think of was that it was the brownies.  Does this sound like a possible reaction to nuts?  If so, can I assume it would be a much worse reaction if he had actually eaten a nut, rather than just some food that had traces of nuts?

Thanks! My kids don't have any known allergies, so this is all new to me.

[sbgrace]

Hmmm..his whole body was red? Was it swollen or just red? How red?

My son is nut anaphylactic and trace was a no questions asked reaction.

Your child eating brownies made with nuts is nut exposure for sure but he likely has trace nut exposure anyway if he's eating a varied diet and others in the family eat nuts (did you eat nuts nursing?).

I don't know what red all over and then disappears quickly could be allergy wise honestly. I wouldn't assume nut allergy though. Could he have been over-heated?

I would not assume a non allergic child with non allergic siblings is going to react to nuts (or any food)! True food allergies are actually relatively rare after all.

[lilgreen]

Thank you for your reply.  He was blotchy red all over... on his face, neck, legs, body, arms. They were big and very bright red blotches, not spots but not solid red all over. They were not raised.

Asthma and exzema run are prominent in both mine and dh's families and ds1 had asthma and all three have had exzema, which was why I have delayed introducing nuts since I've been told they are linked to an increased likelihood for food allergies.

But I am encouraged to hear that this doesn't sound like a likely allergy reaction! Thank you!

[mama1803]

Given the family history of asthma and eczema, I would guess that what your LO experienced was an allergic reaction.  I think you are correct in being cautious with nuts.

My family and dh's family both have a history of respitory allergies but not food allergies.  My ds had eczema for over a year before being diagnosed with a peanut allergy.  His only exposure prior to being tested was through breastmilk.  His reaction to ingesting peanuts (at an oral challenge at the allergists office) was red blotches on his face and neck and one hive on his upper lip.