First anaphylaxis aged 7

[CrunchyFrog]

DS1 took an allergic reaction to some kind of grass yesterday - within a couple of minutes he went from fine to looking like the elephant man and wheezing.

I gave him 10ml of piriton and his inhalers, and it began to improve 5 mins later - was poised to call ambulance, but didn't as it started to improve and steadily continued to get better.

After an hour, the massive swellings on his back and torso were gone, I gave him a good wash to get rid of pollen residue. This morning his eyes were still horribly swollen, so we went to OOH. They told me off for not calling an ambulance, gave him oral steroids and eye drops and to continue giving piriton, and to carry Piriton and inhalers everywhere we go.

So, what do I need to ask for? I think I'm going to go to the GP on Monday and ask for allergy testing, and I think maybe we should also ask for an epipen, what do you think? I know now to call an ambulance at the first sign of severe reaction (he's had hundreds of reactions before, but never like this one.)

What do I do about school?

May I have a moment of ARGH? He also has ASD, various other health niggles, poor little bugger

I think you do need firther advice and support from your GP. My friend's daughter is allergic to nuts (although has never had anaphylaxis, it was determined accidentally during a blood test when they though she was allergic to something else) and she has an epipen and a care plan.

Sorry, a care plan for school.

The pollen changes so if I were you Id give him piriton before school with instructions of when to give it again if needed. He must only have 1 more week of school? The chances are he wont have this problem in september, but have it again this time next year. But you'd be more prepared and wary of long grass anyway and possibly be using preventative measures.

When you get an epipen you'll need two for home. Because they can wear off quite quickly they give you the second to administer 5-10 minutes after the first incase an ambulance has not arrived. So you'd need two for school. 4 in all.

Thanks for advice chaps. Swelling has gone down now thank goodness.

Will get GP appointment in the morning if I can. We're already off school thank goodness, but you're right, it shouldn't be an issue come September. Just have to keep him off the grass now for a few weeks.

Well, that was helpful

Piriton to be carried at all times, a referral to the allergy clinic (wait time 6-8 weeks), epi pens not prescribed by GP without an allergy clinic clearance.

So in the mean time, if it happens again, it's a double dose of Piriton (which he is already on 4 times a day anyway) and call an ambulance.

Nearest children's A&E is 30 mins by ambulance. Ambulance response time more than 15 usually.

So let's hope to goodness that it doesn't happen. And I'm going to try and find out how much it will cost to go private.