[toddst]

If he ever came in contact with the stuff (peanuts) he had to inject himself in the thigh in less than a minute or else he would croak. . .

This is common among many who are allergic to insect stings - most often wasps or yellow-jackets. Hypersensitivity develops after exposure (a prior sting, for example.) I have several friends and a daughter who carry these kits with them at all times.

[tamu]

Since you are familiar with this, let me ask how one determines such a level of sensitivity. Do you bring your child to the doctor and then give the child a spectrum shot of say the active chemicals in bee/wasp/yellow jacket stings, but in very small amounts, to determine if the child has such a high level of reaction. It would scare me if I were a parent to not know this sort of thing.

[MediaMole]

I've always wondered how much is psychological. I had a coworker who was allergic to bee stings. However, she would have panic attacks and have difficulty breathing if she so much as saw a bee.

It was a real physical reaction, but there was no contact at all, just the knowledge that there was a bee in the area.