A reaction?

[dawnlambert]

Firstly, apologies for my naivity - I am a first time mum with an 8 month old son and not had any experiences with food allergies, so am starting from a blank slate. I am hoping someone might help me out with some info pls...

I tried Oli on egg, very well cooked. On the 3rd day of trying (although he didn't eat much of it the first day), his face went bright pink (and I mean bright!), around his nose, eyebrows, mouth, upper lip and over his ears (which spread slightly on his face and hot to touch).

I also thought (although my husband didn't agree) that his eyes and nose looked 'puffy'. The pinkness was also quite blotchy. He also had a rash over his arms and chest. Some of the rash looked like insect bites (with a white centre) and some just looked like heat rash.

This all happened about an hour after he ate it and was completely gone in an hour.

We are seeing paedetrician (sorry if spelt wrong!) on Wednesday about his continuing reflux, so am going to ask then, but does this sound like a reaction to others? Is there a test I can ask for to find out for certain? Are other foods related / also likely to cause a reaction?

Thank you!!
Dawnie

[Ellie H]

Sounds like it could be a mild reaction to me. Sometimes reactions to foods don't show until the second or third time you try them so I'd definitely have a word with the paediatrician to be on the safe side.

My son has a mild reaction to tomato ketchup, some mayonnaises and other sauces which presents as a blotchy rash on his face which clears after around an hour.

I'm no expert though so hopefully someone with more experience can be of more help.

Hope you get to the bottom of it soon.

xxxxxx

[dawnlambert]

Thanks for your response Elli, I will ask the paediatrician.
I feel bad that I put him down for a nap after his lunch, but I let him cry for 15 mins or so until I went up to check he was OK (as he sometimes takes a while to settle) and then I saw his pink little face!! Mums guilt yet again!!

Thanks for responding,
Dawnie x

[monkie]

Hello!

My LO has food allergies - wheat, dairy and eggs... depending on what he had, or how much, he would get a reddy pink rash from his neck upwards, sometimes stopping on his upper lip and sometimes there would be white spots. It comes up within the hour and its gone within the hour, although with dairy he got extremely itchy as well.

I found my HV and doctor no help at all sadly, and even the dietician I was referred to didnt actually give me any advice, just asked me what he was eating and said I was doing a "fine job". The HV actually told me I shouldnt cut anything out of his diet, which is just rubbish when you saw the state he was in. In the end we took him to a private specialist who has been great.

Hopefully your paedetrician will be very helpful and Im sure you are already being cautious and introducing new foods every 4-6 days only.

Good luck!

x

[dawnlambert]

Hi Monki,

Thanks for responding. It certainly sounds as though Oli has had a reaction and egg was the only new food I introduced then. I am introducing new foods individually every few days, but I tend to give it just 2 days for fruit and veg (bit difficult isn't it, or else I worry I can't give the variety?).

But yes, with the higher risk foods, I do a 5 day stint. (I haven't yet introduce orange/tomato/berry fruits yes, for fear the acidity will aggravate his reflux). Tis all a bit of a mindfield and trying to balance the desire to give him a range of different types of foods against being careful is what I am finding difficult.

I will speak to the paed on Wednesday. I have been keeping a diary, in an attempt to see if certain food types have been aggravating his reflux. He's been on Gaviscon and Ranitidine for 5 months now, which I am desperate to stop. I hope the Paed will be helpful (sorry, rambling now!)

Thanks again,
Dawnie x

[monkie]

My LO had really bad reflux too - it was a horrendous amount, all the time... I was so worried, but it more or less stopped over night when he was just having a milk feed at night and proper food in the day, just before his first birthday.

It is a minefield, but fab idea with the food diary because thats something the paed. would have asked you to do, so you're a step ahead! I meant to say, as you asked about a test, they dont allergy test at such a young age as the results can be inaccurate and allergies can change, so keeping a food diary is a must as the only way really is trial and error

Am hoping it will go away when he is a bit older, he is only 16 months and there is a good chance by the time he starts school his intolerances will have changed (fingers crossed). Hope its the same from your LO too.

xx

[monkie]

Sorry...! Forgot to also say - you asked what other foods can be related... if your LO has ezcema (like mine does) the main things that they can be allergic to, or can make their eczema worse, are: dairy, eggs, wheat, soya, peanuts, fish, citrus fruit, tomatoes (fruits with seeds)... phew, think thats about it!

[dawnlambert]

Thanks Monkie, that is all good to know.
I hope your little one grows out of the allergies soon, it must be tough.
It is reassuring to hear the reflux ended for you! I know people say that, but sometimes I find it difficult to believe (although it has got loads better in the last couple of weeks, his 'good' days where he is sick just a few times, seem to be occuring more and more). I trialled him without ranitidine the last few days, and he has been gagging and what I call 'dry retching' loads (alongside the cheesy smelling sick!!). Makes me realise that the meds are doing their job.
All the best,
thanks for responding,
dawnie x

[dawnlambert]

Hi,
After my visit to the paed about Oli's reflux and chat about his funny spell after the egg, he confirmed that all of the symptoms would say he is definitely allergic to egg at the moment.
So, I wondered if anyone has any good egg free cake recipes? I would like a victoria sponge / choc sponge recipe. I know it is way in advance, but I was so looking forward to giving him a bit of birthday cake for his 1st birthday!! And I would like to experiment a bit first, so any thoughts would be very welcome! Also, are there any sugar equivalents for baking? Thank you in advance.
I've seen other egg free recipes on the threads, which I shall definitely be trying!
Thanks again,
Dawnie

[monkie]

Hi Dawnie!

I have a really good allergy recipe book... I havent used this recipe for Victoria Sponge Cake, but if you want to try it out, here it is:

225g/8oz Self-Raising Flour
2 tsp Baking Powder
8oz Soft Margarine
6oz Caster Sugar
225ml/8fl oz apple puree OR egg-free custard
Strawberry Jam
Caster Sugar

1. Preheat the oven to 180c/350f, gm 4. Grease two 18cm/7inch sandwich cake tins, line with greaseproof paper and lightly brush with oil.

2. Sieve the flour and baking powder together in a mixing bowl.

3. Add the butter, sugar and apple puree/custard to the bowl and whisk the ingredients together until thoroughly mixed. The mixture should be soft enough to fall slowly from a large spoon. Stir in 1-2 tbsps of tepid water if necessary.

4. Divide the cake mixture between the two prepared tins, gently spread it over the base of the tins and level off with a knife. Place the tins in the middle shelf of the oven and bake for 30 minutes, or until firm and springy in the centre.

5. Allow the cakes to set in the tin for 30 seconds the run a sharp knife around the edges of the tins to loosen them. Turn the cakes out onto a wire rack, peel off with paper and leave to cool.

6. When cold, transfer one of the cakes, crust down, to a serving plate. Spread the base of the cakes thickly with jam and place the other cake ontop, crust uppermost. Sprinkle with caster sugar and serve.

VARIATION - Chocolate Sponge Cake:

Add 2 tbsps cocoa powder to the basic recipe. Fill the cake with chocolate butter cream icing:

Beat 170g/6oz softened butter into a mixing bowl until creamy and sift 85g/3oz good quality cocoa powder and 170g/6oz icing sugar into it. Add 1 tbsp water and beat the ingredients until they are thoroughly mixed and the icing is smooth and creamy.

There are different variations of this for gluten, dairy and egg allergy, so Ive just given you the egg allergy variation... like I say, I havent made it, but Ive made other things from the book all easy and yummy!

Good luck!