Allergy Alert: Could be Life Threatening for a Child
If you think that allergy is just about itching, sneezing and swelling up, then think again. Allergies could be life threatening for a child. A severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis can result in not only watery eyes and a swollen face but also plummeting blood pressure and a racing heartbeat.
Do not wait for an allergic reaction to worsen. Seek medical help immediately if your child shows any of the following signs and symptoms:
- Loss of consciousness, collapse
- No heartbeat (might happen in serious cases)
- Difficulty in swallowing
- Dizziness, faintness
- Difficulty in breathing, wheezing, feeling of tightness in the chest
- Confusion
- Bloating, gassiness
- Skin rashes (like raised red rash on the face), eczema, hives
- Runny nose, stuffiness, constant cold-like symptoms
- Red, itchy eyes, swollen eyelids, dark circles under the eyes, constant tearing
- Diarrhea, mucus in the stool, intestinal upset
- Red rash around anus
- Cranky behavior, fussiness, irritability, colic
- Vomiting or increased spitting
- Asthma
- Ear infection
- Poor weight gain
While waiting for the ambulance to arrive, you can:
- Identify the cause of the allergic reaction and prevent further and future exposure
- Give the patient antihistamine if there is no difficulty in swallowing
- Bronchodilators help a lot in cases of breathing difficulties
- If there is a feeling of light-headedness, let the patient lie down with the legs raised in order to help the blood flow to the brain
- If there is an available epinephrine kit, inject it to the patient as instructed. The kit provides a premeasured dose of epinephrine, a prescription drug that rapidly reverses the most serious symptoms of anaphylaxis.
- Perform CPR immediately if the patient becomes unconscious, stops breathing or does not have a pulse.
- Tell the medical personnel/doctor what medications are given to the patient and the complete allergic history.