Allergy Testing

About one month ago, I notice Tyler had deveolped a couple spots of eczema. Being winter, I figured, it's dry skin we'll get some cream and no big deal. The cream did seem to help at first, but the rash spread anyway. So I bought stronger cream. Again, it helped a little bit, and yet the eczema STILL spread. And not only was it spreading, but was becoming more red and bumps that were more "hive-like" we appearing. I took some pictures after a bath one night and showed them to one of the doctors at my work (the allergy office). She knew it didn't look good. With children at that age with eczema there is a concern of food allergies. We decided he should see her if nothing else but to rule them out. Yesterday was his testing appointment. He did ok, but unfotunately screamed the whole time because he wasn't allowed to get up. Once he could get up it was like nothing ever happened. We did 26 tests on him including 5 enviromental. Only ONE was positive..... PEANUT?!?!?!? I could NOT believe it!!! My kid has a peanut allergy. Having worked there for some time, I knew the risks, which also meant I knew that even though he is not yet eating peanut/peanut butter, doesn't mean exposure wasn't harmful. Dr. Scahfer explained that if we had peanut butter or any peanut products that we used and then had touched him, hugged him, kissed him, etc. that just that exposure alone could develop an allergy. In addition, with a food allergy, the further exposure, the more severe the allergy typically becomes, meaning next time he might not be ok. HOWEVER, the GOOD NEWS is that most children tend to grow out of these things. In 2-3 years he will be checked again, before starting any school. Why sit him at the peanut free table when you don't have to, right? We were prescibed an Epi Pen Junior for the peanut allergy and Zyrtec as well as a prescription compounded steroid cream for the eczema. We still are unsure what is causing the eczema at this point. He does not comsume any peanut products on a regular basis so at least we know now that the nut or anything else he consumes is the trigger.