Traveling with a peanut allergy

[AKParrotHead]

My husband and I would like to take our 11 year old son to Thialand for a couple of months but he has a very severe peanut allergy. We're worried about how much the Thai people cook with peanuts and peanut oil. I realize that we could use cards stating the allergy but the language barrier worries me also. He can't even have nuts near him or he has a reaction! Any suggestions?

[Trotbot]

It will be difficult with a severe allergy.  A number of dishes have peanuts in, including satay sauce as well as some salads and main courses.  Whilst you may be able to avoid nuts in the dishes you order, the kitchen will normally use the same chopping board and work area for preparing multiple dishes. 

[SpiceMan]

As answered in Food & Drink. Is your question just a sick joke.   Even a child with a mild peanut allergy would be at very high risk in Thailand where any food, anywhere, is likely to be contaminated with peanut oil, this added to the language problem just make your suggested trip madness.

[qapmoc]

Hi akp (again from food and drink), I agree with spiceman, people already gave you honest advice on this matter,  did you think if you ask again somebody would tell you :  Yeah great idea go right ahead. 

[AKParrotHead]

Hey, I'm new to this whole system of posting questions and I didn't know which topic I should put this question in. So really, lay off okay? First of all, we're planning a big trip somewhere, we're not just thinking Thailand. And second of all, if I thought for a minute that we had no options to keep my son safe in Thialand, I wouldn't go!! Jeez, at least be polite. Thank you Trotbot for your honest, informative and non sarcastic answer.

[qapmoc]

Hi akp,  yeah I see now that your two posts were only five minutes apart but you know the second one has a comment about a carrying a card which was suggested in the first post which makes it look as though they were seperate requests for answers.  Sorry if we misjudged you on this one but I did give you a honest answer in the food and drink post.

[jimmy654]

Come prepared for the worst
Epinephrine

It may be necessary for people to carry auto-injectable epinephrine, the same medication administered at the emergency room as a response to anaphylaxis. Unlike antihistamines, if epinephrine is to be used as a treatment they must be prescribed to you by your physician.

Twinject is an auto-injector that helps treat anaphylaxis. Click here to learn more about Twinject.


Antihistamines

For some people with peanut allergy, antihistamines can be taken after exposure and allergic reaction to peanuts, to counter its full onset. Antihistamines are available over-the-counter without a prescription and can relieve some of the discomfort associated with the symptoms of peanut allergy.

Note: Unlike people who are intolerant to lactose and who can take a lactose aide, antihistamines should never be taken in this manner, i.e. prior to deliberately ingesting peanut protein.


TNX-901

In 2003 a paper appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine regarding TNX-901, a drug hailed as a potentially effective treatment for peanut allergy. Early trials of the drug, administered in the form of a monthly shot, seem to show promise for raising the tolerance level in people with peanut allergy. Consequently, the FDA �fast-tracked� the drug but as of 2008, it has been saddled by a host of delays.

It should be noted that TNX-901 did not cure peanut allergy, nor has it ever purported to do so. Rather, it allowed some people in the clinical trials to consume a substantially higher amount of peanuts before having an allergic reaction. The potential benefits are obvious�a patient being treated with such a drug, provided it worked, would be at a much lower risk of accidentally consuming enough peanut proteins through cross-contact to induce an allergic reaction.

14:59 Thu 11th Sep 2008

[jimmy654]

Someone suffering from a peanut allergy must understand what foods to avoid. One has to be vigilant about reading and understanding the labels and ingredients on not only everything he or she eats, but also the oils and creams they might apply to their skin. Additionally, since an allergic reaction can occur from cross-contact (meaning foods that were processed on machines that previously processed a peanut product and not thoroughly cleaned), people with peanut allergy or those caring for someone with one have to be extremely careful.

Below is a list of foods to avoid�both obvious and not�that may contain peanuts or peanut proteins and can induce an allergic reaction. Note that pure peanut oil is not on this list; that�s because the process of purifying peanut oil removes the proteins that cause allergic reactions. There also may be items that do not appear on this least that may cause an allergic reaction.


Common Foods

* Peanut butter & peanut flour
* Ground or mixed nuts
* Cereals
* Granola
* Sunflower seeds
* Grain breads
* Energy bars
* Salad dressing



Sweets

* Store-prepared baked cookies, pastries, and frozen desserts like ice cream (the danger is in direct contact as well as cross-contact)
* Marzipan
* Nougat in candy bars


Peanut Oil, also called Arachis Oil or Groundnut Oil

This is an organic oil made from peanuts. It is typically used to make fried foods. As an organic oil it will lead to an allergic reaction; it retains some of the dangerous proteins for reasons of flavor or nutrition.


Artificial nuts (like mandelonas)

Artificial nuts are often peanuts that, through processing with tree nuts like walnuts, almonds or pecans, have been reflavored. They pose the same dangers as an