Allergic Reactions & Medication
Allergic reactions can affect different parts of the body and not everybody with the same allergen has the same reaction.
“The last reaction wasn’t too bad, will it be the same next time?”
Usually people know they are having a reaction because it is similar to an episode they have had before. However, a reaction can have different symptoms each time.
“What’s the chances of a future reaction being severe, even life threatening?”
Unfortunately, it is very hard to predict how severe a reaction in the future may be. It is not true that allergic reactions get worse over time. How bad a reaction is, depends on a range of different factors, including the following:
- How much of the thing you are allergic to you ate / swallowed
- Your age
- What you are allergic to
- Whether you also have asthma, and how well controlled your asthma is
- Whether you were unwell at the time with a cough or a cold
- Whether you had slept well the night before
It is best to ask your allergy specialist whether they see your child as someone at higher risk or not.
“I’m concerned what might happen”
The worry of having an allergic reaction is a daily struggle for many families. This is particularly true when you don’t exactly know what you are allergic to, either because you haven’t yet had testing or because testing has not given a definite answer.
Receiving good allergy advice is important. You should ask to be referred to an allergy clinic if you still have questions after seeing your GP, dietician or other professional. They should give you a written allergy plan. This should include how and when to use your medicine, when to seek help and when to phone an ambulance.
It is very important to get into good food safety habits as described in this link https://www.cyans.scot.nhs.uk/families/about-allergy/general-food-allergies/safe-food-habits/. Having good safety habits can help reduce the risk of a reaction and reduce your anxiety about one happening.
Finally, you should always carry an antihistamine with you for use in the event of an unexpected reaction. This should always be with you wherever your child goes. Some people may also need to carry an inhaler and / or an adrenaline autoinjector.