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Suggest Treatment For Nasal Congestion And Eye Discomfort After Eating Peanuts
Question: My daughter is 15 and has a peanut allergy. We flew a popular airline and despite asking they served peanuts. My daughter was sleeping and I did not wake her so till now she does not know peanuts were served. The flight was one hour and the peanuts were served early on. Before landing she started with significant nasal congestion and rubbing her eyes. The eye discomfort continued for some time after exiting the plane. I had her wash her hands and face and slowly she recovered – she stopped complaining and showing symptoms after a half hour or so.
1) Can this be attributed to the peanuts being served in the plane?
2) If yes, was she in any significant risk of progression if the flight had been longer?
1) Can this be attributed to the peanuts being served in the plane?
2) If yes, was she in any significant risk of progression if the flight had been longer?
Brief Answer:
No, peanut allergy is not the cause for her symptoms.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Peanut allergy is seen with eating of peanuts in sensitive individuals.
Since she had not eat peanuts on the flight, her symptoms are not due to peanut allergy.
Peanut allergy can not be seen by smell of peanuts.
So no need to worry for peanut allergy in her case.
And no risk if flight would have been longer because she has not eat peanuts.
Her symptoms are mostly due to viral infection.
So tell her to drink plenty of fluids orally and do warm water gargles 5-6 times a day.
Don't worry, she will be alright.
No need to worry for peanut allergy.
Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wishing good health to your daughter. Thanks.
Brief Answer:
Yes, this might be causing allergy.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
For hypothetical question, yes this might cause allergic reaction as there is nothing impossible in medicine.
And if at all this occurred, this won't cause serious reaction as the exposure has been off since she is already out of plane.
Hope I have solved your query.
If you are not having further queries, then please close the conversation and rate my answer.
You can ask me directly on bit.ly/askdrkaushalbhavsar.
Wishing good health to your daughter. Thanks.
No, peanut allergy is not the cause for her symptoms.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Peanut allergy is seen with eating of peanuts in sensitive individuals.
Since she had not eat peanuts on the flight, her symptoms are not due to peanut allergy.
Peanut allergy can not be seen by smell of peanuts.
So no need to worry for peanut allergy in her case.
And no risk if flight would have been longer because she has not eat peanuts.
Her symptoms are mostly due to viral infection.
So tell her to drink plenty of fluids orally and do warm water gargles 5-6 times a day.
Don't worry, she will be alright.
No need to worry for peanut allergy.
Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wishing good health to your daughter. Thanks.
Brief Answer:
Yes, this might be causing allergy.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
For hypothetical question, yes this might cause allergic reaction as there is nothing impossible in medicine.
And if at all this occurred, this won't cause serious reaction as the exposure has been off since she is already out of plane.
Hope I have solved your query.
If you are not having further queries, then please close the conversation and rate my answer.
You can ask me directly on bit.ly/askdrkaushalbhavsar.
Wishing good health to your daughter. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Thank you Doctor. One followup question: In the hypothetical situation that 200 + peanut packets are opened at one time in a closed environment of a plane at the same time and minute amounts of peanut dust is created and this small amount of peanut protein comes into contact with the eye and nose mucosa of an allergic patient:
1. could it cause mild discomfort akin to a pollen allergy (e.g. itchy eyes and nasal congestion)?
2. if this happens can it progress to a more serious reaction?
1. could it cause mild discomfort akin to a pollen allergy (e.g. itchy eyes and nasal congestion)?
2. if this happens can it progress to a more serious reaction?
Brief Answer:
Can you tell me her symptoms on exposure to such allergens?
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
To answer this query I need to know few things.
1. Since how long she is having this allergy?
2. What are her symptoms while having allergy?
3. Is it always nose congestion and eye itching?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wishing good health to your daughter. Thanks.
Can you tell me her symptoms on exposure to such allergens?
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
To answer this query I need to know few things.
1. Since how long she is having this allergy?
2. What are her symptoms while having allergy?
3. Is it always nose congestion and eye itching?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wishing good health to your daughter. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Dear Doctor I have a further follow up question.
My concern is no longer with this event as she felt better and all symptoms resolved after 30 minutes from exiting the plane. My need to understand this event stems from understanding what could happen if we travel again and similar exposure occurs.
If exposure to very small amounts of peanut allergen in the air leads to mild symptoms only - then there is no risk and we can give her more antihistamine if need be. On the other hand if this could trigger a more serious reaction, then we can't fly under these circumstances. This is my dilemma - in the USA serving peanuts in planes seems to be an emotional need and many airlines do so.
Thanks again,
She was diagnosed with a peanut allergy since she was 4. This by skin testing,
She has never consumed peanut.
She has had skin contact with peanuts resulting in severe hives.
The eye discomfort and nasal congestion happened this time in a plane full of people eating peanuts and resolved after exiting the plane. Thus my suspicion that this was an allergic reaction to small amounts of peanut protein in the air.
If so, I need to understand if this puts her at risk of anaphylaxis or likely not.
My concern is no longer with this event as she felt better and all symptoms resolved after 30 minutes from exiting the plane. My need to understand this event stems from understanding what could happen if we travel again and similar exposure occurs.
If exposure to very small amounts of peanut allergen in the air leads to mild symptoms only - then there is no risk and we can give her more antihistamine if need be. On the other hand if this could trigger a more serious reaction, then we can't fly under these circumstances. This is my dilemma - in the USA serving peanuts in planes seems to be an emotional need and many airlines do so.
Thanks again,
She was diagnosed with a peanut allergy since she was 4. This by skin testing,
She has never consumed peanut.
She has had skin contact with peanuts resulting in severe hives.
The eye discomfort and nasal congestion happened this time in a plane full of people eating peanuts and resolved after exiting the plane. Thus my suspicion that this was an allergic reaction to small amounts of peanut protein in the air.
If so, I need to understand if this puts her at risk of anaphylaxis or likely not.
Brief Answer:
Risk of anaphylaxis at present or infectious future?
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Yes, there is always a risk for anaphylaxis but it depends on
1. Duration of exposure
2. Severity of exposure
So please let me know
1. Are you talking about risk of anaphylaxis at present or in future?
2. Has she ever prescribed montelukast (anti allergic) drug?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wishing good health to your daughter. Thanks.
Risk of anaphylaxis at present or infectious future?
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Yes, there is always a risk for anaphylaxis but it depends on
1. Duration of exposure
2. Severity of exposure
So please let me know
1. Are you talking about risk of anaphylaxis at present or in future?
2. Has she ever prescribed montelukast (anti allergic) drug?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wishing good health to your daughter. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Dear Doctor:
1. I am only concerned about FUTURE - in similar situations. Today she is fine.
2. No, she only takes Cetirizine (Zyrtec) and Benadryl when needed.
Thanks again
1. I am only concerned about FUTURE - in similar situations. Today she is fine.
2. No, she only takes Cetirizine (Zyrtec) and Benadryl when needed.
Thanks again
Brief Answer:
Risk is always there.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Honestly speaking, there is always risk of anaphylaxis in future.
So she should be careful about peanut exposure.
About prophylactic treatment, in my opinion combination of antihistamine (levocetrizine or fexofenadine) and anti allergic (montelukast) drugs is more beneficial rather than taking plain zyrtec.
So discuss about starting this in her case with her doctor.
Hope I have solved your query.
If you are not having further queries, then please close the conversation and rate my answer.
You can ask me directly on bit.ly/askdrkaushalbhavsar.
Wishing good health to your daughter. Thanks.
Risk is always there.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Honestly speaking, there is always risk of anaphylaxis in future.
So she should be careful about peanut exposure.
About prophylactic treatment, in my opinion combination of antihistamine (levocetrizine or fexofenadine) and anti allergic (montelukast) drugs is more beneficial rather than taking plain zyrtec.
So discuss about starting this in her case with her doctor.
Hope I have solved your query.
If you are not having further queries, then please close the conversation and rate my answer.
You can ask me directly on bit.ly/askdrkaushalbhavsar.
Wishing good health to your daughter. Thanks.
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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