Do you give anti-histamine every time?

[vvviola]

I'm probably irrationally panicking (for those of you who might have read my chat post about panic attacks, you won't be surprised!)

DD2 had a small allergic reaction today - can't figure out to what, possibly a tiny bit of dairy on her Dad's tshirt (he'd had icecream). She got a couple of hives around her eye and a red puffy area around them.

When it finally dawned on us what it was, it was beginning to fade and within half an hour it was all gone. She seems fine now, but the reaction must have been a contact reaction to a very small amount of whatever it was.

But I'm beginning to wonder if I should give the antihistamine as a matter of course? The second I see a reaction? Just in case? And whether I should still give it now even though she is fine & almost asleep (bedtime here!)

And, finally, would you let your GP know? DD's referral to the immunology unit was refused as her case isn't complex enough (!) but we're waiting on a referral to the general paeds unit, which can be a stepping stone to the immunologist apparently. But I kind of wonder if I should get the reaction noted on her file,

I'm really struggling with doing the right thing on these allergies... :(

I have posted asking something similar before because I wondered if I over reacted by giving piriton every time my dd had the smallest red mark on her face!

My advice would always be to give piriton if you are unsure. Our consultant said that piriton would do my dd no harm and to give it if we were ever worried. So we continue to give it if my dd has any unusual redness or spots. We probably have gotten better at distinguishing between allergy spots and normal spots though. My dd has red hair and very fair skin so she is prone to patchy blotchy skin if for example she cries. She also gets occasional spots...this used to stress me out before as I automatically assumed she was reacting.

I'm interested to hear what others say about the situation where your dd's reaction passed without treatment...I'd probably have given piriton anyway but wonder if this is necessary too? Is the fact that the reaction passed a sign that the body is dealing with it, or am I being too optimistic?

Harverina - it was her first reaction since we'd been given the antihistamine so I think we think of the antihistamine as very serious. Helpful to think of it the way your consultant said - that it's not going to do any harm.

We give anti histamine at the first sign of a suspected reaction. Its what the paed told us to do.
As time has gone on the severity of DS's reactions has increased and so we do it to stop any potential reaction as quickly as possible. I am sure that sometimes we could manage without it but it is better safe than sorry as they say and so we use it if we aren't sure but think it is likely that it is an allergic reaction

We give it at the first sign of a reaction - the allergy clinic told us to.

I think it's more effective if given immediately, so that's what I do just in case.

We give it routinely, the GP told us too.sans we don't need to panic if she picks something up!

You weigh up the risk against the benefit. So give the piriton. I would even say give it now if it will make you feel less anxious.

DS has antihistamines every day, sometimes twice a day, on the advice of a paediatric immunologist. Just keep a note of when you've given it and why so that if you ever do get to see a specialist you can give them accurate information when they ask about the history.

I give AHs at the first sign of any reaction, and both the GP and paediatrician have said if in doubt, give the AHs.

Thanks everyone! Seems that until I manage to see a specialist at least, I should probably go with the principle of 'if in doubt give it anyway'.

I think the GP (while trying to be helpful) made me subconsciously think that giving the AH was a huge thing. And in my head I hadn't thought of the reaction worsening, just that the first reaction was it. I'm still struggling to get my head around it all.

Thanks again!

Just to say obviously I am not a child but I take 40mg (so 4 tablets) of antihistamine a day and have done for 16 years. At one point I was on 285mg a day in total. Didn't work for my cholinergic urticaria but I slept well

AH is not a huge thing -think of all the children that take it daily for hay fever.