Latex and Salicylate containing foods

For the past week Henry has been consuming ONLY his safe foods, a long with my miracle formula that he drinks to get the majority of his calories each day.  I have to say that he is doing wonderful.  I can see how our allergist advice to NOT TRIAL FOODS has made a difference in Henry.  For the first time in his life, he is consistently having normal stools and his little bottom isn't red any more.   Now, I just read that sentence back to myself and had a thought.  How is he going to feel when he is twenty years old and comes back and reads this blog?  Will he be angry that I discussed his red bottom with the entire world?  Well, hopefully, in the name of science, he'll be able to forgive me!

He has been happy and sleeping though the night!  He doesn't have eczema, or rashes on his body--it's truly amazing.  Even better, he's gained several ounces, which is the greatest indication that healing is taking place.  I am thankful that our allergist recommended to NOT TRIAL FOODS for the next six weeks, in order to allow his gut to heal.   After which time, they will repeat his swallow study and see if he is able to swallow without aspirating, that is, spilling liquid into his lungs.  It is our hope and prayer, that the inflammation caused by FPIES is contributing to his dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) and aspiration. 

I am also happy to report that Henry currently has an upper respiratory infection and is not wheezing or needing nebulizer treatments!  I believe that  that since Henry is eating his safe foods, in spite of having a respiratory infection, his overall inflammation is down.  Therefore, he is not refluxing or aspirating as he was previously and so he is not wheezing. 

I find it a bit interesting as I look at Henry's lists of food intolerance's.  There are two correlations I've noticed and I wonder if the skin prick testing might confirm which compound is the culprit.  Many of the foods listed are related to latex allergy.  Noted on the Cleveland Clinic's website the following list of foods are considered latex related are:

Banana
Avocado
Potato
Kiwi
Papaya
Fig
Pineapple
Peach
Plum
Cherry
Strawberry
Melon
Nectarine
Grape
Tomato
Celery
Rye
Wheat
Hazelnut
Chestnut

These foods can cause a latex like allergy because the proteins in the foods mimic latex proteins.  Obviously, the IgE mediated Latex reactions are life threatening, and would require avoidance of all latex and the need to carry an epi-pen.  However, I found it interesting that many of Henry's trigger foods are on this list, and curious whether it would be advisable to be very cautious with latex products, due to the sensitivity he already has to the foods.  The article states that just because you can't tolerate these foods does not mean that you will develop a latex allergy, however, I think it is an interesting observation.

Further Henry has always had a weird reaction to Ibuprofen or Motrin which contain salicylates.  He coughs and sometimes makes a retching sound when taking it, so I don't give it to him anymore.  Many of the foods on his intolerance list contain salicylates.  It is suggested that sometimes people can tolerate a small amount of salicylates if they are rotated in ones diet.  Foods that contain salicylates are as follows:


Almonds
Apples
Apricots
Blackberries
Boysenberries
Cherries
Cloves
Peaches
Avocado
Green bell peppers
Currants
Dewberries
Gooseberries
Grapes
Raisins
Nectarines
Oranges
Olives
Potato
Plumbs
Prunes
Raspberries
Strawberries
Cucumbers
Pickles
Tomatoes
Melon

Salicylate-Containing Food Products
Ibuprofen (contains acetylsalicylic acid--a similar chemical)
Tabasco
Mayonnaise
Salad dressings
Tartar sauce
Catsup
Hot chocolate mix
Cocoa mix
Oleomargarine
Jell-O
Gelatin
Candies (yellow and green)
Gum
Corned beef


We will have to see if the allergist thinks that there is a connection between latex or salicylate containing foods.  For those of you just learning your child or your personal allergy triggers here is another helpful link on the common food allergies.  It lists the most common allergens and gives lists of which foods contain them.