If you are the parent of an infant who may have had a mild allergic reaction, it is crucial for you to seek allergy treatment for your child. The reason for this is because it only takes seconds or minutes for a severe allergic reaction to occur once someone has already been sensitized from a first-time exposure. Should this happen and immediate treatment is not given, death can occur within 15 minutes. Here's what you need to know and how to get your little one the treatment they need to survive a life-threatening allergic reaction:
Symptoms of Anaphylaxis at Any Age vs Anaphylaxis in Infants
Unfortunately, it can be difficult to recognize the warning signs of a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis in infants. The symptoms of anaphylaxis at any age are the following:
As you read through the symptoms that can occur regardless of age, you'll notice several that are typical daily bodily reactions of infants, particularly the inability to control bladder and bowel movements and lethargy. Abdominal pain, anxiety, and other symptoms that cause an infant to be uncomfortable can cause them to cry, but crying is normal for infants as it's their way of communicating a need. An unconscious infant may appear to simply be snoozing.
Testing, Diagnosis & Treatment for Anaphylaxis in Infants
The most common life-threatening allergies include certain foods, medicine, stinging insects, and vaccines. Be aware if you are breastfeeding, the allergens your infant is sensitive may be in your breast milk. Avoid eating common allergen foods until your infant has been tested and diagnosed, such as dairy, eggs, peanuts, shellfish, tree nuts. It is crucial to have your infant tested for allergies to determine what it is they are allergic to.
Testing for allergies in infants can be done in several ways, including blood tests and skin prick tests. However, if your infant is currently on medication for their allergic reaction, these tests could give false negative results. If a specific food allergy is suspected, the allergy doctor may attempt an elimination test first.
Due to the difficulties in testing, diagnosis can be given for suspected allergies and cleared later if the diagnosis is wrong. That way, the doctor may prescribe an epinephrine auto injector, which is the life-saving treatment for anaphylaxis. Depending on the allergen, there may be additional treatment options available, such as desensitization with allergy shots.
Contact a medical clinic like Mid America Ear, Nose, & Throat Clinic PC for more information and assistance.
Share19 July 2017
Hello, my name is Marissa Johnson. Welcome to my website about visiting ear, nose and throat, or ENT, specialists for infections and allergies. When I was a young kid, I developed ear infections every month or more. The infections were extremely painful and did not respond to traditional treatment methods. My parents and I worked closely with an ENT specialist to end the ear infections for good. On this site, I will explore the methods ENT doctors use to treat infections and allergies. You are welcome to visit my site on a regular basis to learn more. Thank you for coming by.
