Friday, April 3, 2009

Food Challenges the Way To Test??

I saw this news special on Nightline tonight.

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/AllergiesNews/story?id=7232662&page=1

It was about the only true test to tell if you're allergic to something is doing a food challenge and see if there is a reaction. They are saying the blood tests are not very accurate. Many think they have allergies when they may not.

Well we know Nathan is still allergic to milk by his exposure recently. His Wheat numbers are lower so we are doing a food challenge this month. Now I also want to food challenge his egg and peanut. The reason they don't do food challenges that often is because they are risky and expensive.

3 comments:

April said...

Jeanette, I saw that too last night. I kept thinking of you and Nathan. I hope the wheat challenge goes well for him!

-April

Tara said...

I'm surprised you want to do peanut - were the levels that low? I thought peanut was the one most kids don't outgrow. Beau's peanut level increased 300% between 24 and 36 months. I think it gets worse before it gets better. Peanut is so easy to avoid. If I were you I would definitely challenge wheat and maybe egg but not risk peanut.

Amy said...

I think its great to test him. Have you heard about the kids that were given peanut flour slowly over time and were able to outgrow the allergy? I would say its better to test than to live in fear. It is so hard to avoid dairy. I can't imagine having the additional allergies too.