mini-unblock is fine; or, just because you're paranoid doesn't mean he's not allergic to peanuts

[unblock]

public service announcement for parents of toddlers: the first time you feed your kid peanut butter, do it in the parking lot of an emergency room.

mrs. unblock did this this morning after our pediatrician recommended we introduce our 2.5 year old boy to peanut butter. apparently, he's way too small (as in 0th percentile) and we need to fatten him up.

well, good thing, because within 30 seconds his mouth had completely puffed up. given the location, mrs. unblock was able to get him emergency attention in just a few minutes. beats the hell out of wondering why the ambulance is taking so long, or driving to the hospital from home 30 minutes away.

after some epinephrine and prednezone and a few hours of observation, mini-unblock is home and happy and healthy and his face is almost back to normal.


mrs. unblock and i got a couple epipens and are scouring the kitchen for anything that might have peanuts, peanut oil, peanut flour, peanut dust, etc.....

[billyoc]

1. Thank goodness!

I wonder why the world is suddenly allergic to peanuts, did anybody ever figure that out? :shrug:

[unblock]

6. they don't know, there are a few theories

one is that overcleanliness leads to allergies and asthma by training the immune system to be hypersensitive to anything unfamiliar.

my personal favorite is that it's simply an unidentified virus. epidemiologically, it seems to behave as if it's communicable, though there also appears to be a genetic component, perhaps some kids inherit a gene that makes them vulnerable to this virus. in mini-unblock's case, there's another kid at preschool with a peanut allergy.

[yardwork]

2. Oh my gosh. I'm glad that he's ok. What an experience!

He's lucky to have such good parents. I wish him a long and happy life.

[sandnsea]

3. Oh my gosh

:hug: How terrifying. And don't forget it's legumes, not nuts. I don't have the legume list but I'm sure someone else will. And, I've read that some nuts mix peanuts in with, and other nuts are processed in the same plants as peanuts, so you have to be careful there too. I'm glad everything turned out okay for you.

[unblock]

4. yes, fortunately product labeling in this regard is much better than when i was a kid

he's actually had food that "may contain" peanuts, but it's hard to know what actual exposure he ever got from this.
obviously we can't take chances like that anymore.

i knew of someone who knew they were allergic to peanuts but died nearly 30 years ago in college from eating some chili at a restaurant. turns out they thickened it with peanut butter. you never know where it's going to show up.

[sandnsea]

7. I have a mild allergy

I can eat it on occasion with minimal problems. But on a regular basis, I develop a sort of hack and tickling in the lungs. Never connected it to peanuts until a few years ago. I should probably not eat them at all, but I just can't resist a peanut butter cookie or a handful of trail mix. I worry that if I keep pushing my luck, I'll end up in the hospital eventually. I should probably be grateful I can still eat chocolate and skip the peanuts altogether. What a terrifying thing to have to live with, and especially with so many people ignorant to how dangerous it can be.

[EFerrari]

5. Omg.

:scared: