allergy testing
On Wednesday, Child #3 and I spent five hours at the allergist's. Child #3 recently had a couple of bad reactions to insect stings. As in, swelling hugely and some trouble breathing. Our pediatrician suggested we see an allergist for venom testing.
So, Child #3 went through skin-pricking testing for: the honey bee, paper wasp, yellow jacket, yellow hornet and white-faced hornet. The results: a major allergy to the honey bee and an allergy to the white-faced hornet (also known as the bald-faced hornet).
Yikes! This spring, Child #3 is off for a week to sixth grade camp where, because of the wildfires, there will be many buzzing bees. The allergist advised he take TWO Epi-pens. And below are additional tips for child #3 from an informative little booklet called Venom Attack Force.
-Wear tight clothing.
-Don't dress in light yellow or light blue. Instead, lean toward a wardrobe of whites and tans.
-Don't drink beer, soft drinks or juice outside.
-Don't wear perfume, sunscreen or hairspray.
-Wear shoes.
-Don't hang out by paint containing isoamyl-acetate. This is a bee-alarming agent.
A wild-and-crazy, needs-a-2nd-cup-of-tea thought: If we follow these directives, we'll recognize each other in the "real" world. A sort of stay-safe-from-stinging-insects AND blogger uniform/ lifestyle. All rolled into one.
(Excuse all the hyphens. I do love a good hyphen.)
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As a mom of an allergic kid, I'd modify the "no sunscreen" directive to a "scent-free suncreen" directive. Trading severe sunburn for no bees is not a helpful trade.
ReplyDeleteGood point. I was wondering if there was a good sunscreen to use. This particular child is very fair and could not go without sunscreen. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThere's this Australian sunscreen called Blue Lizard that is awesome. My middle child is allergic to everything, has sensitive, fair skin and this stuff is wonderful.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.crownlaboratories.com/bluelizard/
I buy it at the dermatologist's office. Good luck and Happy New Year!
I think its very sensible of you to find out!
ReplyDeleteAll i can add is good luck!!!
I was going to suggest Blue Lizard, also.
ReplyDeleteI'm highly allergic to ants. I'm telling you this because I know you were dting to know.
yikes - good that you know the dangers now. The scent free sunscreen is a good suggestion.
ReplyDeleteWell, that's kind of scary. If it's at all reassuring, my son is a camp counselor and all the counselors are well trained as to the dangers of allergies and the use of epi-pens.
ReplyDelete(As for the "real life"/blogger uniform - tight clothing??? No way!)
(anon Mom again) We use L’Oreal Ombrelle Suncare, their unscented stuff. Bees & wasps seem to be oblivious to it.
ReplyDeleteYikes!
ReplyDeleteWow.
ReplyDeleteGlad you figured this out before camp.
And it looks like you've gotten some good recommendations for sunscreen.
It must be a relief to know how to prevent stings and what to do in case it happens.
Hipwritermama, Shoeaddict and Anon Mom: thanks for the sunscreen suggestions. :)
ReplyDeleteCasdok: thank you for the good luck!
ReplyDeleteMonnik: I agree. Much as child #3 didn't want to go through the testing, I'm really glad to know the results.
Beth:I bet you're right, and they are all trained re bee stings and other nasty things. Well, perhaps we could loosen up the rules on tight clothing. Pun intended!
Kim: Yikes is indeed the word!
Hi Bella! I do feel relieved to know about the allergy, the suncreens (thanks to people here), epi-pens, etc.
ReplyDeleteI know this can be so scary for a parent - these allergies and it is so good that you are being so proactive and aware to protect you children. Take care. Kellan
ReplyDeleteWell that really stinks! Allergies to bees scare me, but the good thing is you know about them before he ever got stung. Now he can be ready and know what to bring. Thank God for those epi-pens. We use them a lot at school, in the spring. I love the Blue Lizzard sunscreen too. I have had a lot of luck with it.
ReplyDeleteXOXO
Don't let your child go to sixth grade camp without sunscreen! Try the scent free stuff or the all natural stuff with aloe.
ReplyDeleteOh, scary! My DH has some severe allergies, too, and he's going away for a couple months. I'm making him take two epi-pens, too, just 'cause I'm scared.
ReplyDelete*sigh*
Scary stuff.
Yikes! Another allergic child to worry about. As a teacher I can tell you that we carry these things everywhere we go when an allergic child is involved. Knowledge and preparation are over 2/3 of the battle. ( I just made this up, good, eh??)
ReplyDeleteUgh. I don't like bees of any kind. It's good to be prepared, though.
ReplyDeleteAs a child, I had a big reaction to mosquito bites. The bite area would get very swollen and itchy. I would get big red spots, not little ones. My mom would get me vitamin B-12 supplements to "stink up the blood" or something. Mosquitoes didn't like it. I've outgrown this reaction, but still don't like being bitten. Doesn't anybody?
Sounds like sunscreen products to check out, too, just to avoid these pesky insects.
Allergies are serious business so I'm sorry he's got this but better to know it and deal with it. Along with the epi pen(s) I'm sure you'll make sure he takes no beer and wears no perfume to camp!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI too, have allergic kids. what a pain in the butt this is. But after a while..you get used to it and it's just the way life works for you. I agrgee with the sunscreen thing too!
ReplyDeleteAwww...poor kid. We have a mild peanut allergy and a mold/dust/pet/grass allergy for the other. I think if we had a bee allergy we'd be even more spastic around bees and wasps than we are now--not a good thought.
ReplyDeleteHope it all goes well!
(And I too adore the hyphen).
It is great that you discovered this before the trip.
ReplyDelete