Anaphylaxis is considered to be a very serious allergic reaction to certain foods or chemicals and if left unattended, can be deadly. This condition requires urgent medical attention and this includes being injected with epinephrine and possibly ending up in hospital too.
Anaphylaxis is usually triggered as a result to your immune system overreacting to an allergen. Common triggers can include venom from insect bites, and certain food ingredients like nuts; some medicine can also cause anaphylaxis in children. Symptoms usually appear within minutes and the most common areas affected are usually then skin, respiratory system, gastrointestinal, heart and vasculature and central nervous system, with usually two or more being involved.
Handling anaphylaxis in children is challenging, especially in young children that might not be able to tell you when they start to feel an allergic reaction. If a child has had an allergic reaction, try to get him or her to a professional allergist as soon as possible to obtain the correct treatment and diagnosis. They physician will consider the child’s past reactions and medical history, and then recommend the correct treatment for their reactions. This is essential as you would want to prevent future attacks if possible and this can only be done if you know what the child is allergic to.
Always Be Prepared
If you have small children, make sure that they know about the dangers of anaphylaxis and what they can do to alert the people close to them like teachers and sports coaches. Only pack foods that are safe and teach them what to avoid if they want to stay healthy. It’s also essential to make sure that your child’s teachers know about severe reactions so that they can act appropriately in the event of an emergency. The classroom area should preferably also be free of possible dangerous ingredients, like nuts for example, if your child is allergic.
If a child has a particular severe allergy there is a good chance that he or she will carry epinephrine with them so make sure they know how to use it. Epinephrine reverses the symptoms of anaphylaxis, by constricting blood vessels and relaxing smooth muscles in the lungs. This will help to improve a person’s breathing and stimulate the heart as well. It can also help to reduce any swelling that may occur around the face and lips when someone has an allergic reaction to an allergen.
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