peanut allergy test?

[Barbee]

someone told me to put peanut oil on my ds's skin to discover whether or not he has a peanut allergy. he did react when mistakingly giving peanut oil (on raisins in a trail mix) but he was really young, but i'm not certain he has a real peanut allergy or if he was just too young to digest the oils. so, can i try this?

[elmh23]

I wouldn't. Peanut allergies can be severe. Call an allergist and get testing.

[Ruthla]

Originally Posted by elmh23

I wouldn't. Peanut allergies can be severe. Call an allergist and get testing.

ITA. What will you do if he has a serious allergic reaction when you try this?

Plus, if you "self diagnose" you may have trouble getting health care professionals to beleive you that your child's allergies are real.

[WC_hapamama]

There's not a lot of protein in peanut oil... wouldn't be an accurate test.

[naturegirl7]

My son has a peanut allergy - my doc said that they do not even have peanut incuded in their skin testing - that it is such a severe allergy, it is not worth the risk. They rely soley on blood testing.

That said, my son comes in any contact with any peanut residue - he has an ana. reaction - he has never actually ingested it. Thank god. Just a trip to the park or the store can result in him having a reaction if another child ate PN and then played on the equipment or with him.

I taught preschool and one little boy when into ana shock after his brother kissed him on the check (after eating a PB&J.)

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do not do this - it is way too dangerous. If your DC has a reaction - they could die before EMS gets to you. Even carrying an Epi pen is not a gaurentee.....

Call a doc and get a RAST done.

[4Blessings]

I agree with pp. Don't mess with it.

See an allergist for blood work and RAST testing. If confirmed make sure you leave the office with an emergency action plan, a Rx for an Epi-pen (Jr.) and contact MedicAlert ASAP.

Good Luck!

[Barbee]

wow.. i guess that was really bad advice. i just assumed that his skin would get red. does that mean that everyone needs to go to an allergist or risk their child going into shock when they have their first peanut experience? i think i'm just going to stay away from peanuts.

[wenat]

My severely peanut allergic (RAST >100) son accidentally ate a chinese dessert that was made with peanut oil and had no reaction. It turns out that peanut oil, properly processed, has no peanut protein in it, and so can be safe for peanut-allergic people. Not that you want to take the chance that it wasn't processed properly. So putting peanut oil on skin and getting no reaction is not an indicator that there's no allergy.

Putting peanut butter on skin is a better test, but waaaay more dangerous, as others have already said.