Calling All Parents/Grandparents/Medical Folks

When I picked my daughter up at school last Thursday she said, "Mamma, something's wrong." She then told me that she had been itching all over and had red spots.

I stopped at a grocery store (less than half a mile away from her school....a LOT closer than home) and took her into the bathroom to check her over.

She had an inflammed spot about the size of a silver dollar on the back of her neck. She had pinpoint red dots on her back, two places (size of pencil eraser) on her abdomen, three inflammed areas (about nickel size) on her right thigh, one place on the top of her right foot (even though she had on socks/shoes) and inflammed areas on the backs of both knees.

The worst areas were the insides of both arms.. extending from armpit to elbow and larger in diameter than a dessert plate! All of the inflammed areas were raised, smooth (no bumps or blisters), had definite edges and were bright red in color.

We went straight to the pharmacy area and picked up Benadryl tablets and benadryl cream. I opened the tablets and gave her one before we even went through the check out line...then rubbed the cream on all the areas.

Put her back in the car and headed toward the hospital. I called her doctor's office first. If they had an opening I knew I could get her checked quicker there...versus the hospital. Her doctor couldn't work her in, but one of the NP's could see her.

On the way to the doctor's office my daughter had an asthma attack! Her doctor and I have been managing her asthma for five years and this was the very first asthma attack she has ever had.

NP assessed my daughter and ordered a shot of prednisone. Sent her home with three additional days of prednisone (20mg tablets, one tab. twice a day) and a prescription strength topical cream. NP couldn't definitively determine cause of allergic reaction. She was very honest with me and told me, "I can't tell you exactly what caused this."

Okay, I told you all of that so you'd have some background info regarding onset, symptoms, treatment.

My daughter finished the prednisone yesterday and the rash has greatly improved. Today is the first day that she has NOT had to use her rescue inhaler...so the angioedema aspect of the reaction must be very well controlled as well.

I spent a good amount of time at my daughter's school today, trying to pinpoint the specific causative agent. I found out that there have been no new products/chemical used in the classroom.

I talked with a member of the janitorial staff and was told that the cleaning products they are using are all natural and are the same ones they have been using since the beginning of school.

Based on my daughters account of when the itching & swelling started I've been able to conclude that her contact with the causative agent just about had to happen on the playground.

Visual inspection of the playground revealed mostly open space. The trees, shrubs & flowers are species to which she has already been exposed. I'm in the process of trying to learn what chemicals are used on the playground (for weed control, etc.). An agency (not affiliated with the school) handles playground maintenance. I left a message for the Parks & Recreation Director, but haven't yet received a return call.

Finally, my question:

What Am I Missing???????? I'm open to any and all suggestions/input.

I know this post has been more like a mini-novel, thanks for taking the time to read it

Thanks for your input She takes her lunch everyday, but she did mention trading with someone that day. What she told me she traded for, though, is something that she's not had a problem with. I'll have to question her more closely this afternoon.

Update: Had return call from Parks & Rec. The only thing they use on the playground is Round Up, just around the fence line...and they sprayed that two weeks ago.

I had never heard that about the Benadryl oral/cream combo, thanks for the information!

The epi pen may be a great idea. Also, she had some allergry testing last year (after she had a sinus infection that took three months to clear up). She tested positive to cats, some grasses & a few trees. But she didn't have a major reaction to anything.....that they tested for anyhow.

Could it be some of her sensitivities are changing??? Something else to ask the doctor about

Post edited by: Bkwrm398, at: 04/15/2008 15:15

I am glad the meds worked for her. You may want to talk to your doctor about future flare ups and what things you can have on hand incase it does happen again, to prevent a hospital visit and costs. That way you have something to treat while you wait to get in to see the doc for more advanced meds if needed.

Thank you very much for taking the time to respond

I had a feeling that looking for "the cause" could be like looking for a needle in a haystack

So, since she's had one reaction like this she could possible react to other things (that weren't previously problems) with this level of severity???

I'm going to check with the doctor about an epi pen. The possibility of her having another reaction even more severe than this one truly does scare me!

Thanks again

http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/stinging-nettle- 000275.htm

Thinking about the Round Up. That's used to kill vegetation and it does last for a while as it is a systemic weed/grass killer. What were they killing with it?

http://www.scotts.com/smg/brand/roundup/brandLanding.jsp? branPage=roundup

Does she have ANY food allergies? If she traded with someone, it might not have been the food she ate, but rather something the food was exposed to that she is allergic to (tree nuts, peanuts, etc.). It could have been made in the same manufacturing plant or the other child's parent could have used a cutting board that was contaminated. My son has food allergies so I am familiar. This could have also brought on the asthma attack.

The only other suggestion I can think of is to take her to an allergist for testing and their opinion.

Good luck!

Please discuss it with your doc. They know best and know your daughter. I hope that her case would not be so severe as mine to where the worst could happen, but the only way to be safe is discuss it with them. Epi pens are not any fun, I had 3 very large bruises larger than grapefruits on my body from the emts sticking me with 3 of them, because they could not get ivs in me because I was so swollen everywhere on my body from very large raised hives. I just wanted to share this, because it is possible, but the doctor will lead you in the right direction I'm sure. Also, any insurance I have had they do not cover epi pens. They are not very cheap either. Best of luck to you and my thoughts are with you and your daughter.

As for the Round Up, I was told they only used it to kill grass, weeds & dandelions at the fence line.

Food Allergies: when she was three yrs old she ate one praline pecan and within 30 minutes was itching. She also broke out in a very fine, lacey-looking rash. No breathing problems. She has been able to eat pecans since then (in the last 2yrs) with no problems. She has never had a problem with peanuts.

bicngillette I am sorry that you had such a severe reaction...no breathing, no heartbeat I'm thankful you were successfully treated!!

Please don't worry about giving a graphic description, I really appreciate that fact that you went through the trouble to further explain your reaction to me. It helps me to get a better grasp of what her next reaction may be....if I don't have the proper meds in place. That kind of "heads up" is priceless in my book!!