The results of Ben's allergy tests
Ben was sent for allergy testing because I'd discovered he was allergic to egg white, and because it could effect his vaccination schedule. His appointment was yesterday.
When we arrived the nurse asked if I just wanted Ben tested for egg white and yolk, or if I wanted all tests for common allergens done, so I opted to have all the tests since we were there anyway. They did a skin prick test (SPT) and Ben was so cooperative; the nurse was very impressed and I was really proud of our boy. He had four rows of allergens down his back and hardly flinched.
And so it turns out that Ben is allergic to egg white (which we knew), egg yolk (this was a surprise), peanuts, and milk. For perspective, the control measures 4+, egg whites measured 3+, egg yolk measured 2+, peanuts measured 3+, and milk measured 2+. The allergist wrote a prescription for an epi-pen "just in case" and recommended that we rid our home of peanut products.
Egg yolk really surprised me because Ben's had egg yolk with no visible side-effects. The allergist said it was because this allergy is mild. Milk is another one that threw me. In the past it caused exzema in Ben, so we knew he was allergic -- in the past -- in some capacity, but he's been on whole milk exclusively, i.e., no formula, for over a month now and he hasn't had any real negative reaction to it. I still have to speak to Ben's allergist about the milk, I don't even recall him mentioning it, because we're not sure how much dairy is acceptable. This morning we switched Ben to fortified soy milk. He seems to like it okay, thankfully. I think we can go this route and still allow a little cow's milk into his diet by way of cheese and yogurt.
When we arrived the nurse asked if I just wanted Ben tested for egg white and yolk, or if I wanted all tests for common allergens done, so I opted to have all the tests since we were there anyway. They did a skin prick test (SPT) and Ben was so cooperative; the nurse was very impressed and I was really proud of our boy. He had four rows of allergens down his back and hardly flinched.
And so it turns out that Ben is allergic to egg white (which we knew), egg yolk (this was a surprise), peanuts, and milk. For perspective, the control measures 4+, egg whites measured 3+, egg yolk measured 2+, peanuts measured 3+, and milk measured 2+. The allergist wrote a prescription for an epi-pen "just in case" and recommended that we rid our home of peanut products.
Egg yolk really surprised me because Ben's had egg yolk with no visible side-effects. The allergist said it was because this allergy is mild. Milk is another one that threw me. In the past it caused exzema in Ben, so we knew he was allergic -- in the past -- in some capacity, but he's been on whole milk exclusively, i.e., no formula, for over a month now and he hasn't had any real negative reaction to it. I still have to speak to Ben's allergist about the milk, I don't even recall him mentioning it, because we're not sure how much dairy is acceptable. This morning we switched Ben to fortified soy milk. He seems to like it okay, thankfully. I think we can go this route and still allow a little cow's milk into his diet by way of cheese and yogurt.
posted by Leanne at
8:10 am
