Epipens and sting allergies - any MN experts around?

[Callmemadam]

DD2 has been prescribed an epipen after a nasty reaction to a sting while on holiday. We don't know what stung her, but we know it was a flying insect. The hospital is doing a blood test to look at bees/wasps/hornets/fire ants/yellowjackets. What happens if the test doesn't identify what the trigger was? Does anyone know whether she would continue to have the epipen or not, please?

I think she would probably keep it as there's always a possibility she may react again.
What kind of reaction did she have?

Yes, they would as clearly she reacts to something, whether they found the cause or not. In fact, it would probably be of more concern to not know, since you wouldnt know what to specifically avoid.

Yes would keep epipen. My understanding that an insect sting is an allergy that is ongoing and possibly gets worse each time. Really don't want to alarm you but wanted to let you know advice from my allergy consultant.

She got stung on the ankle and very quickly said she could feel a tingling going down into her foot and then turning back up. She turned pale, then weak, then said she felt faint. She broke out in this huge clammy sweat, with beads on her forehead just like the movies. Then she stareted to shake, (I had given her Piriton by then) and then said she felt sick. Dh got her outside where she was sick. She felt her eyesight going, and dh drove her to the hospital. By the time she got there she was feeling better, but very tired. The French A&E chap said she was fine to continue her day so we drove to the beach from the hospital (about 1hr.). When we got there she vomited again, and then felt better. The consultant said that the vomiting would have been caused by the release of histamines into her gut which I didn't know. Problem is I am worried if the test comes back as inconclusive or negative whether that means they would then take the epipen back, as we are not sure what type of insect bit her. Weirdly we saw what looked like white spittle on her leg where she had been stung so my first thought was a snake, but she says she saw it flying around, and there was only one puncture mark.

Could she be allergy tested at the hospital using the skin prick method... my son is allergic to dariy, eggs and nuts and has an epi-pen... they also checked him out for wasp and bee stings which came back negative...

I'd keep the epi-pen with you just in case... it will give you peace of mind!

That sounds very frightening Callmemadam. I hope the tests reveal what your dd is allergic too. My ds used to have a severe egg allergy and was prescribed epipens. Make sure they give you two as I believe you are meant to administer 1 followed by another 10 mins later. Check up on that obviously, but that is what we were told to do with ds.

Well, RAST tests say she is not allergic to bees wasps or hornets (and she got stung by a wasp on Saturday too, would you believe it!) but the consultant is satisfied that she did not have a pnic attack and that she did react to the venom of whatever got her in Corsica, so says she still has to carry an epipen. Just wondered if there are any other sting sufferers out there who can advise me? Is there any way I can track down what caused this in Corsica, and is there any point in her carrying an epipen in the UK? TIA

Bump?

Don't have any advice with sting allergies. Is it possible that the type of wasp ? in Corsica could be a certain type? I would continue to carry epipen around as a safeguard. No harm to carring it in your bag. If your dd is school age and you are not sure of the epipen, perhaps she could carry piriton with her just in case.

I would carry the Epipen around. I have no experience of sting allergies, but from DS's allergies I deduct that:

A) it may be possible that she is only allergic to the bite of that insect in particular or,

B) to a particular substance of the venom.

If the former is the case, great if you have identified the insect and can confirm it isn't an animal that lives and breeds in the UK. However, if she is allergic to a part of the venom that other local insects's venom may have, things get a bit tricky.

I know it feels fiddlesome to be carrying an emergency kit, but once you get used to it you hardly notice it. It becomes second nature to have it around.

P.S. Many cildren in the UK carry an epipen that they may never use, but it has been agreed that it is better to err on the side of caution where there is a clear indication of a possible anaphylaxis (and a severe previous reaction is a clear indication).

cildren=children

I don't know anything about sting allergies and was just being curious reading this. But when any child has had an anaphylactic reaction I'd try to hang on to the epipen. We have 4, that's 2 at home and 2 at school ( in theory). They can't make you give it back anyway as it can't be prescribed for anyone else.

You don't have to use a second epipen if the child reacts well to the first but you keep it handy in case of a secondary reaction later/ in case you make a mess of the first one. It has to travel with the child. Unfortunately you can't rely on them vomiting - mine (nut allergy) did the first time but not the second.

Thanks guys, that's useful feedback. I have to say I think it must have been something 'corsican' but how could she be allergic if she has never been exposed before? There was a dead scorpion in the pool, though, and since we could see excess venom on her ankle I wonder if it was a scorpion sting?

pity you couldn't keep the venom. I don't know about sting allergies but generally you need to be exposed twice to react.

If the first test comes up negative I expect the hospital will do more tests with different insect venom.