Anaphylaxis: Severe Allergic Reactions
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Anaphylaxis: Severe Allergic Reactions Be Prepared for Anaphylaxis Keep an Emergency Plan with You You, your child, and others who supervise or care for your child need Nearly one in 50 Americans to recognize the signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis and how to treat it. are at risk for anaphylaxis Your child’s doctor will give you a written step-by-step plan on what to Some children are allergic to certain foods, medicines, insects do in an emergency. The plan is called and latex. When they come into contact with these things they an allergy emergency care plan or develop symptoms, such as hives and shortness of breath. This anaphylaxis emergency action plan. is known as an . Things that cause an allergic allergic reaction To be prepared, you, your child, and reaction are called Take all allergic symptoms allergens. others who care for your child need seriously because both mild and severe symptoms can lead to a to have copies of this plan. serious allergic reaction called anaphylaxis About Epinephrine Be Aware of Symptoms of (anna-fih-LACK-sis).Anaphylaxis Epinephrine is the medicine used to treat anaphylaxis. The emergency The symptoms of anaphylaxis may occur shortly after having action plan tells you when and how to contact with an allergen and can get worse quickly. give epinephrine. You cannot rely on You can’t predict how your child will react to a certain allergen antihistamines to treat anaphylaxis. from one time to the next. Both the types of symptoms and Know How to Use Epinephrine how serious they are can change. So, it’s important for you to be prepared for all allergic reactions, especially anaphylaxis. epinephrine. Epinephrine is safe and Anaphylaxis must be treated right away to provide the best comesLearn how in an to easy-to-use give your child device called chance for improvement and prevent serious, potentially an auto-injector. When you press it life-threatening complications. against your child’s outer thigh, it Symptoms of anaphylaxis usually involve more than one part injects a single dose of medicine. of the body such as the skin, mouth, eyes, lungs, heart, gut, and Your child’s health care team will brain. Some symptoms include: show you how to use it. You, in turn, • Skin rashes and itching and hives can teach people who spend time with your child how to use it. • Swelling of the lips, tongue or throat • Shortness of breath, trouble breathing, wheezing injectors near your child. Do not (whistling sound during breathing) storeAlways epinephrine have two epinephrine in your car orauto- other • Dizziness and/or fainting places where it will get too hot or too • Stomach pain, vomiting or diarrhea cold. Discard if the liquid is not clear, and replace it when it expires. • Feeling like something awful is about to happen Your child’s doctor will give you a complete list of symptoms. PROUDLY BROUGHT TO YOU BY For more detailed information and a list of resources, please visit KidsWithFoodAllergies.org. Page 1 of 2 Copyright ©2014, Kids With Food Allergies, a division of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), all rights reserved. Rev. February 2017 This resource is made possible through sponsorship by Mylan Specialty. Take Steps to Common Causes of Anaphylaxis Avoid Anaphylaxis Foods. The most common food allergies are eggs, milk, peanuts, The only way to avoid anaphylaxis is for your child to stay away allergies in infants and children are eggs, milk, peanuts, tree from allergens. Teach your child nuts,tree nuts, soy and soy, wheat. wheat, fish and shellfish.The most common food about his or her allergy in an Insect stings age-appropriate way. Teach your child to tell an adult about a reaction, Latex found in things such as balloons, rubber bands, from bees, wasps, yellow jackets and fire ants. how to avoid allergens and how hospital gloves. and when to use an epinephrine Medicines, especially penicillin, sulfa drugs, insulin and auto-injector. aspirin and ibuprofen. nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as take for each type of allergy: Here are some first steps you can Food. Know How to Treat Anaphylaxis and avoid cross-contact. Read the Learn how to read food labels Follow the steps in your child’s emergency care plan label every time you buy a product, to give your child epinephrine right away. This can save even if you’ve used it before. 1 your child’s life. may change. Ingredients in any given product After giving epinephrine, always call 911 or a local Insect allergies. Wear closed-toe ambulance service. Tell them that your child is having a shoes and insect repellent when 2 serious allergic reaction and may need more epinephrine. that can trap an insect between the clothingoutdoors. and Avoid the loose-fittingskin. clothing Your child needs to be taken to a hospital by ambulance. 3 Medical staff will watch your child closely for further Medicine allergies. Tell your doctor reactions and treat him or her with additional medicine if about medicines your child is allergic symptoms recur. names of the medicines. to. Know both the generic and brand Latex allergies. Tell your doctors, After Anaphylaxis dentists and other health care • Sometimes, a reaction is followed by a second, more severe, providers about your child’s latex reaction known as a biphasic reaction. This second reaction your child’s medical chart about your That’s why people should be watched in the emergency room allergy. Ask them to put a note in forcan several occur within hours 4after to 8 anaphylaxis. hours of the first reaction or even later. of the allergy before any medical child’s allergy. Also remind them • Make a follow up appointment or an appointment with an procedure or test. allergy specialist to further diagnose and treat the allergy. For all allergies: Educate family, friends, the school and others who will be with your for more information child about your child’s allergies. They can help your child avoid For more information about how to avoid allergens and to be prepared to treat them, please visit: allergens and assist if anaphylaxis KidsWithFoodAllergies.org | AAFA.org occurs. PROUDLY BROUGHT TO YOU BY For more detailed information and a list of resources, please visit KidsWithFoodAllergies.org. Page 2 of 2 Copyright ©2014, Kids With Food Allergies, a division of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), all rights reserved. Rev. February 2017 This resource is made possible through sponsorship by Mylan Specialty..