Allergic to Elecare???

[Anonymous]

Could my DD be allergic to the CORN found in Elecare??? She was recently being treated for what the Ped thought might be ringworm (she wasn’t too sure, long story). ANYWAYS… It got worse and now the Ped. is saying that it’s numular eczema.

She started off with a small ring-like rash on her cheek/chin and it has spread all around her mouth and she is now getting the eczema on her legs and arms. I asked the ped. if it could be ANOTHER allergy and she said “No, Mom. Not everything has to be allergy related.” Which, at the time, I was a little annoyed with BUT now even more so. I feel like I let her talk me out of it. BUT the more I think about it, the more I think it might be. She NEVER had eczema before this and it just started a few days after the Elecare was introduced. Am I imagining things??? Could it just be “seasonal” like the Ped. said??? I wish I would have thought about it at the time and had her refer us to an allergist just to be on the safe side. If she ends up being allergic, what other formulas are out there for a baby who is milk, soy, & corn intolerant??? AHHHHHHH!!!! I feel like I’m gonna rip my hair out. It’s one thing after another. ANY THOUGHTS???

I think I’m gonna call the office tomorrow and have the Ped. get us a referral to an allergist. Can they even test for anything this young???

[Anonymous]

there was a baby on here that was allergic to corn and I can’t remember the formula they used, I think it was soy b/c she didn’t have problems with soy… but I really don’t remember. You may find with the allergist that the results aren’t really accurate. Most of the time they say not to do testing until I believe a year or older… I hope someone else can chime in… to help out.

[Anonymous]

What formula did you switch to Elecare from? It could be the corn but it could be anything really. I would print off the ingredients (all the formula makers have websites with this info) for both formulas. Start by crossing off any ingredients that are in both formulas. What you will have left is the ingredients that are only in Elecare. Maybe that’s a start??

Sorry to not have any other answers! I hope you guys get this figured out. HUGS!!

[Anonymous]

You might try PM-ing Sue – “Alexis’s mom” is her user name. One of her daughters (Taylor I think) was allergic to the corn in Neocate/Elecare. I don’t recall what she ending up using for a formula/milk.

[hellbennt]

I’m not at my computer-
use the search
some keywords
Ross
formula
corn

[Anonymous]

Thank you all so much! I just PM’d Sue. I also have a call into our Ped. Averi has just been extremely fussy since starting the Elecare, even with transitioning slowly from Alimentum. I’m hoping she’s not allergic to the corn, but would rather be safe than sorry. It’s just odd to me that the nummular eczema showed up 3 days after introducing the elecare. Coincidence?!

Also, a couple questions about her new meds…

1. How long does it take for the e-mycin to help clear her out to where she should start eating better?

Well, I guess one question. 🙂 lol I think I had more, but my brain is outta whack lately. Thanks Again!

[Anonymous]

Something I just came across when trying to figure out what ingredients are in what and so on…Almost EVERY formula that Averi has been on contains some form of corn.

*Nestle Good Start Supreme – Corn Maltodextrin

*Nestle Good Start Soy – Corn Maltodextrin

*Enfamil Nutramigen Lipil – Corn Syrup Solids

She had visible blood in her stool on Nutramigen

*Similac Alimentum – Corn Maltodextrin

*Elecare – Corn Syrup Solids

Developed Nummular Eczema

*Could this have been her problem all along? She’s not MSPI but allergic to CORN? She has had her most severe reactions while on Nutramigen & Elecare. What do you think?

valentine4mommy2008-08-01 12:13:17

[Anonymous]

Hi…almost every formula does have corn in it. Allemintum RTf (ready to feed) does not, the powder does. There is also a soy formula you can get at Whole Foods that doesn’t have any corn (might be the one made by Ross). I just talked with a ped allergist/immunologist a couple of days ago. He said it is REALLY rare for babies to be allergic to corn, but that it does happen. Also, as for the allergy testing, I have been told by man y docs, it is not reliable until at least 2 yr old.

[Anonymous]

I was also going to say that babies with sensitive GI’s often have more than one food issue. So, if you think corn may be an issue, I still wouldn’t rule out the MSPI. I don’t remember how long you have been on Elecare? And you weren’t on Neocate before that right? If it were me, I would give the totally broken down formulas (neocate and elecare)2 weeks, Elecare being at least 1 week. Make sense? And then If I didn’t see improvements, I would try the Allimentum RTF. If it is a corn issue, you should see impovement. You also have to keep in mind that the Allimentum isn’t completely broken down, so even if the corn side of things gets better, if there is a milk issue, there still may be a problem. A lot of milk issues don’t present in skin issues etc, more GI. According to our ped allergy doc, corn allergies usually present as a true allergy. So, if the rash goes away, you would know there was a corn issue. Good luck

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I agree she might have several allergies. Which is why I just want to go ahead with the allergy testing. I’m tired of changing her formula every time she’s not doing well just to have her do worse than before. Plus, I just don’t understand how a Ped. can “diagnose” without any REAL evidence.

No, we’ve never tried Neocate. Averi has been on the Elecare for 3 1/2 weeks. We’ve been transitioning her slowly as to not cause GI upset. BUT About 3-4 days after starting the Elecare is when the nummular eczema appeared and when she started to get fussier than “normal” & being constipated(it’s still soft, but she has the hardest time with it). Starting Mon. she will be on FULL Elecare. I just know that I don’t want to continue with a “guessing game.” I want to help my LO. It seems that no matter what meds or what dose she’s still not improving. To me, that shows that it’s something else. There’s something more going on and I’m going to do whatever possible to get this figured out. If it wasn’t for this forum and you ladies, I don’t think we would be even this far. I wasn’t too educated before and THANK THE LORD, HE brought me here to find this help and to find Averi’s cause of pain. THANK YOU ALL!

[Anonymous]

You have to be on “straight” Elecare for the 2-4 weeks to see improvement. How long were you on the Alimentum before you switched? The excema could be from the Alimentum still. When little ones have intolerances it is not the same as an allergy. With allergies, if you come into contact with the allergen, there is an immediate immune response (hives, difficulty breathing, etc.) With intolerances (MSPI) there is a quite frequently a delayed reaction. Meaning you wouldn’t necessarily get the excema today if you drank the milk today.

The normal allergy testing (RAST and skin prick) will not show intolerances (like MSPI). Intolerances do not have the same IgE immune system reactions that allergies do. These IgE reactions are what they are looking for when allergy testing is done. Like the pp said, allergy tests would show the corn b/c corn is a true allergy. Just be aware that if you have the testing done, milk and soy may not come back as positives, but she could still have MSPI.

Here is something interesting that I read about corn allergy:

Corn “allergy” is often associated with a reaction to another allergenic substance. In some cases soy allergic individuals may react to products containing corn. Occasionally corn is carried, handled or stored in the same containers used for soy. Although only minute residues of soy may remain, this can be enough to cause an allergic reaction in highly sensitive people.

[Anonymous]

I do find it interesting that she seems to have the strongest symptoms on the formulas containing corn syrup solids as opposed to those that have maltodextrin from corn… There could be something to this. I hope Sue can give you some idea of what happened with her DD. And I agree with the others that there still may be MSPI here as well.

It’s so hard when you just don’t know for sure what is causing the problem in your child. Hang in there, you’re doing great!

[Anonymous]

Yes, I understand that you have to give it time and it has to be “straight up” elecare. She has been on Alimentum since 1 month old. So, I don’t think she would be reacting to that (i.e.eczema) just now. And I understand that she may still have an intolerance not just an allergy. I just know that I need to do everything in my power to make sure we have some answers. It would be GREAT if it comes back that she doesn’t have any issues with the corn and therefore she can stay on the elecare. I just know that some things don’t “add up” to me. It doesn’t make sense that while on a milk-based formula she never had any visible blood, just the usual fussiness/gas/constipation…BUT…On a formula that has the milk protein broken down into the smallest form, that’s what she REACTED to. Just doesn’t make sense. My point in all of this is that if there is a way to find out for sure what ALLERGIES she may have, then why not. I know it may not show intolerences, but it may show an allergy and help us put together another piece of the puzzle.

[Anonymous]

Thanks Sheri! Thanks for giving me Sue’s info. She messaged me back and it’s pretty crazy how similar Averi and her DD are in the symptoms department. I also think Averi may still have an intolerance issue. Too bad there isn’t a test for that, right?! 🙂

[Anonymous]

Good luck! Hopefully you can get in soon to the ped allergist! At least that way you have can a starting point to figure this all out. HUGS!

[Author]

Posts