Need help!

[JLomama]

I am trying to figure out what is going on with my 4 yo son.  Several weeks ago we noticed that the thumb he sucks started getting very red, dry, and was beginning to peel clear down his thumb into his second knuckle.  Then he got red dry patches on his inner thighs. Now his skin is dry all over, his eyes are red around the outside and look watery, his hair is coarse and dull looking, and he now has a rash on his lower back in the area where his pull up touches. He has a runny nose and that has chapped and peeled the skin under his nose, and his lips are terribly chapped.  I have not changed my laundry soap or the soap we use in the tub (I use all natural stuff anyway), and the only thing I have changed in our diet is that I've cut back on our consumption of wheat and use spelt and rice flour, and coconut milk instead of cow's milk. My kids are not exclusively on the coconut milk, but I bake with it and they like to drink it. Our younger son has had no problems. My husband and I are suffering from allergies right now, but that has only been the past couple days.  I'm thinking this sounds like a food allergy, but why all of a sudden?  I've read that there are allergies to coconut but that it is rare. When my son was younger he used to react to fish by throwing up.  He seems to be over that.  He also reacts badly to bee stings (severe swelling). Any ideas?  He's so miserable and I don't know what to do.

[scsigrl]

I would think environmental first.  Maybe he was reaction sooner because he is smaller or more reactive to those things than you or your DH are.  The things you are talking about (skin, runny nose, eyes red and watery) sound more EA to me.  My DS just got really REALLY (like bleeding) hands over the past weeks.  He is potty learning (FINALLY ;) ) and I think it has been 4 yo hand washing issues causing the chapped hands and all.  Anything like that maybe going on?

I would also look into is the things you are using to replace the wheat/dairy in your diet.  If it was a sudden change in him, did it start with the food changes?  (FWIW, my DS IS allergic to coconut so anything is possible but yes, rare!)  

A food/symptom log would be where I would start.  Keep a detailed list of it all!  You may fine something out that way!

Good luck!  It is so hard to figure these things out :(

[JLomama]

Thanks for replying.  I'm thinking it's more environmental now, too.  I found some black mold in our house.  We have a very damp basement and we've had mold before.  We got a dehumidifier that runs 24/7 and just resealed our basement walls.  There was some particle board that my husband tore out that had black mold growing on it and that's been in our basement.  I took one of the pieces outside that I could carry up the steps, now I'm waiting for him to move the other one.  Found mold in our chest freezer and cleaned that with bleach.  I also saw it upstairs in my bay window. Sprayed that down with bleach.  I'm wondering if that's what has been making us sick.  Our symptoms are not any better yet.  My oldest son's skin feels like sandpaper and it hurts him when I give him a bath.  He hasn't been eating anything out of the ordinary or different, so I'm thinking it's not food related. But who knows???  Not sure if I should take him to the dr.  He doesn't seem sick or anything besides a little runny nose.  My middle child has no symptoms except a runny nose.