Allergy issues getting worse.

[momto2js]

My son has always had some allergy problems. Tree nuts were our first and still worst trigger. That is the only thing that requires an epi-pen. However, when the environmental allergies (who knows to what but something in the air) are not in good control, DS is miserable. Not only the typical rash, runny nose, and sneezing but also short tempered and angry.

We have neighbors that have a son the same age as DS. The boys often play together at one house and the they switch to the other. We like the parents and is nice to have the friendship for the kids. The neighbors also have a dog. The last 2 times DS has visited the neighbors he has played there for an hour or so and then the boys have come here. With in 20 minutes of being home, DS has first gotten in to a squable over a toy with the neighbor then thrown a tantrum, then had a large allergic reaction including facial swelling and a hivey rash. It appears that he is allergic to his tantrum. I am thinking that he is having a delayed response to the dog and once his body starts to spin up this reaction he is unable to deal in the social and then the tantrum starts. I think when he is busy playing he misses the innital symptoms and then he is really uncomfortable and unable to cope. As soon as we see the symptoms we give benadryl and things get better quick but not before completly wearing him out, he usually goes to bed or needs a 2 hour nap after a major reaction.

There are other triggers that are not as obvious. We did testing 2 years ago, and will not likely be able to repeat the scratch testing because you have to be medicaiton free and I don't see that happening.

I don't go anywhere with out benadryl and he takes a singluar each night. Assuming he is allergic to the dog, do I give the benadryl before he visits a house with a dog, do I say he can't go, I'm certain we can not sleep over at a house with a animals at this point. It seems that the responses are getting more fequent and more intense lately.

What do I do. We live in Charleston, SC which I believe is the allergy capital of the world. There are old house and buildings with mold everywhere. If you have kids with environmental allergies do you see a behavior link to an episode, what kinds of treatments have you tried? How do you handle social situation where triggers are present?? Any input would be useful.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

My DD has slight environmental allergies and while they aren't severe enough to attribute any behavioral problems directly to them, I do know that anything that makes her physically uncomfortable can trigger tantrums/meltdowns. She has an alphabet soup of diagnoses with the primary one being bipolar disorder, but she has a lot of sensory issues.

As for dealing with the triggers, have you spoken with your son's doctor about allergy shots? It might be worth it if it makes your son more comfortable. I've also read about doctors now using the same principle of allergy shots with nut allergies. They introduce microscopic amounts of nut proteins while the child is in a controlled environment like a doctor's office. Over the course of many months, they slowly increase the amount of nut protein the child is exposed to until their body can handle a small amount of nuts without reacting.

 

[leebee]

When DD was 10, she tested 4+ for all kinds of things... mold, dust mites, cat, dog, hay, grass, all kinds of pollens, etc. She's been through a myriad of prescription antihistamines over the years, some working better than others. We have air purifiers in her bedroom, the living room, dining room, and family room, which might help, might not- I've never been convinced. DD has suffered with incredible post-nasal drip in conjunction with her allergies, and bad sore throats and huge, swiss-cheese-like tonsils. When her allergies were in full swing, she'd be irritable and cranky, partly because she always felt terrible, partly due to lack of sleep because of the allergies, partly due to the headache and nausea that would accompany her histamine reactions.

This went on for years, until finally when DD was 15, we convinced the pediatrician to refer her to the ent, who took one look at her tonsils and asked why they weren't taken out years before. Out they came, and everything has been SO much better. Yes, she still has reactions, but nothing like they used to be. She doesn't have to sleep sitting up, doesn't have killer pnd, no more sore throats. Her mood and attitude are better, too, because she is getting sleep and not having the nausea that would accompany her reactions.

Not sure what my real point here is, except that allergies are funny things. We helped my DD (now 18) immensely just by tracking her symptoms. Maybe that'll help with your son, and help you make some decisions.

Interesting development... we've always had 2 cats (since DD, only child, got them at age 4), couldn't get rid of them even though DD had allergies, they are her siblings. She adjusted, put up with it. Now she's living at college... came home for Thanksgiving and had an allergic reaction to the cats she's lived with all her life!