[Tess1]

Hi

I'm just wondering if any fellow EB members have a strong family history of allergies (nuts in particular) but don't suffer from anything themselves?

By way of background, I have a strong family history of nut and other allergies in my family. Out of four children, one sister is allergic and anaphylactic to both tree and peanuts; she is also asthmatic. My brother is allergic and anaphylactic to peanuts and is asthmatic as well. My other sister, while not allergic to anything, suffers from debilitating hayfever at certain times of the year. My mother developed asthma as an adult, and is also severely allergic to not only penicillin, but many other classes of antibiotics. I have no known allergies at all. My husband is coeliac just to add to the mix.

My sister who is allergic to both peanuts and tree nuts has one child out of four children who is allergic to tree nuts only. All of my other siblings children are fine (7 others).

My daughter was diagnosed as allergic to peanuts at 12 months after a reaction. Yearly testing has continued to show a worsening reaction. Today, I introduced peanut butter to my other child - delayed on recommendation due to family history. Sure enough, my 13 month old had a strong reaction. That is, hives around the mouth and neck, swollen lips and eyes etc. My sister is an ER doctor so I planned it so she was there with phenergin and an epi pen if required. I'm off to the GP tomorrow to get a referral for my child. However, I'm somewhat perplexed that out of all my siblings' children, both my children seem to have developed allergies yet I don't.

I'm curious to hear from other members about their experiences especially if there is a family history of allergies.

TIA

[30bt]

There is definitely a genetic link with allergies. Hope you get a referral to a major paed hospital in your state so that the genetic links can be further reviewed!

[2bundles]

I wouldn't have thought 13mths is delaying introduction. We were told not to give until 5yrs due to family history.

Btw I have one child with allergies & asthma, and one with neither.

[livvie7586]

our family has a history of allergies, but we all differ in what they are/the severity. i'm one of 5, the eldest 3 don't really have allergies, more food intolerances, but my brother and i have multiple allergies/intolerances (he's got food allergies-nuts, eggs etc, i have chemical allergies-amoxil, chlorine etc). We got ours from mum (i have a different father, but neither father has allergies).

Mum has 3 siblings, she is the worst of them, therefore our branch of the family also has the worst allergies (not saying there aren't allergies floating around, there just isn't anything serious). Out of my siblings and my kids, none show any serious food allergies (yet, DS is allergic to cats and there are plenty of food intolerances).

Ours seem to go that the child with the worst allergies themselves has the children with the worst set, but there is a genetic link (most of my family ignore the fact that there are allergies in the family for themselves/their kids. i'm the only one other than mum that has had formal testing).

ETA-my kids have a double whammy, my DH also has hayfever/asthma (and i'd say a fair whack of food intolerances, but his family would never believe in something so airy fairy, DH only believes because he has been around me long enough/has seen the effects of the 'wrong' food on our DS)

This post has been edited by livvie7586: 11/12/2012, 05:50 AM

[Tess1]

Thanks for the feed back.

We saw the GP yesterday and obtained a referral to an allergy specialist. Rang the specialist and couldn't get an appointment until April 2013 - not surprised!

Good news today! As my 13 month old will be starting childcare in January 2013 and we may need a plan in place, within 24 hours they have rung back and offered an earlier appointment in late January.

I still can't quiet believe that I may have two children with nut allergies, when both my husband and I don't! I think more than ever now there must be a genetic link. The upside Of all of this is at least they've been born into a VERY allergy aware family!

Thanks again.

[MooGuru]

I have a family history of allergies on paternal side; I have severe seafood allergy worsening in adulthood. My Dad is the only one from gis generation without severe allergies. But my mum also has shellfish allergy which may have impacted. My sister and cousins have allergies abs intolerances as well also worsening in adulthood but so far nephews have been fine *touch wood*