Allergic reaction - in hospital…

[DDDN]

Hey everyone,

Anyone that has a nut allergy or has kids with nut allergies, please share your knowledge. Currently in hospital with 18 month old…

So around 2 months ago, my daughter had allergic reaction to hazelnut. I was eating hazelnut chocolate and she touched the wrapper then her mouth. 4 minutes later, mouth and face getting swollen like she just had 4ml filler injected. Ambulance came, monitored for 30 minutes, lips came back to normal size. No need to go hospital.
Before this episode, she had been exposed to peanut and no reaction.

Dad came to visit tonight. Brought some Bueno bars. Forgot it has hazelnut and gave her a piece. 3 minutes later, DD1 shouting something is on DD3 face. Extremely swollen face/lips, redness everywhere, hives everywhere, crying, stressed. Called ambulance. They came, gave her a shot, swelling will not go down, gave another adrenaline shot, still swelling will not come
down. Currently in hospital. 3 hours later swelling is down, hives mostly gone. But lips are still swollen a little and few hives left…

What happens next? She is being watched for a second reaction as the nut is travelling down and digested etc.

I am very scared now. Is this just the beginning? Will she become allergic to all types of nuts? Will she end up having reactions by just being in a room with nut? Will I need one of those Epipens?

Will I now have to be extremely careful and check everything?

She just went to sleep…literally after the shots, she was so hyper. Jumping around. Could not stop moving.

I’ve heard that the reactions get worse and worse….anyone gone through this? I will
be contacting GP on Monday - any idea what tests to ask for??

Thanks!!

Yes you need a referral to a paediatric allergist who will do skin prick and/or blood tests to check for all allergens. Nut allergy will be automatic prescription for two epipens. Yes reactions can get more severe with each subsequent exposure which is why you now need to be very vigilant. You will need to read all labels/ask at restaurants and check for nuts. Hazelnut is in a lot of baked goods/sweets so you'll need to be very vigilant about checking and asking in those. Hazelnut allergy does not necessarily mean she will be allergic to all nuts but you just won't know until you get the tests done.

As above poster said you will be referred for a skin test , they should also test for other allergies she hasn't yet been exposed to. If not ask them to do this , have a look at the top 14 allergies.

You will need Epipens. Take them everywhere with you , you can buy cases online . I bought a second pair for the childminders online. The allergy nurse recommended I keep one on me and leave one at the childminders as an ambulance should arrive within 5 minutes, but I think it's best to have 2 on you at all times.

My son has an egg allergy , he once had a bad reaction. It's so scary and the fear you feel is awful . You will get more confident in knowing what she can/can't eat . I take my own food for him to restaurants etc now. We do self catering holidays.

My son was a similar age when he had his bad reaction and it did seem to put him off trying new foods / foods he wasn't eating often for a while.

Will I now have to be extremely careful and check everything?

Yes you will, but you will just get used to it. At first it's absolutely awful but you become more skilled at it over time.

Surely she will be referred to the allergy clinic right now if she's in hospital. You shouldn't have to go through the GP.

I've just waited eight months for a paediatric allergy clinic appointment for my dd to get a skin prick test so I'd be pushing for it now while she's in hospital if I were you.

www.anaphylaxis.org.uk

Thanks everyone.

she was admitted as she was still swollen. Around 4 am was given more medicine. Finally, around 8 am, all swelling gone. As you all said, was discharged around 3pm with two epipens. And referred to Allergy Clinic.

Got home, threw away all nut oils, chocolate bars etc.

Will be very vigilant. As you all said, Hazelnut is in a lot of things…

I am going away to France soon and suddenly feel anxious. I will be taking my own snacks for her and just have big meals out (with lots of questions!!)

Thanks for all the information!

Really tricky when they are so young but if she has another episode, try to keep her still. The advice for anaphylaxis is to keep as still as possible (don't even walk around) as the movement increases heart rate and blood flow which causes the reaction to quicken.

@acuppatea I've never heard that advice before and I work in paediatric A&E.

If she has another reaction, give her the epipen and call 999. Comfort her/hold her as needed, but don't stress about fighting to keep her still.
@DDDN Make sure you take something about anaphylaxis in French, just in case

https://www.what0-18.nhs.uk/parentscarers/worried-your-child-unwell/allergic-reaction

This website lets you translate into any language you want. So you could translate into French and they'd get the idea, should anything happen.

You'll get used to it. Our daughter was diagnosed with a peanut allergy last year and it's actually been ok.

Some things I'd ask the specialist:

• Does she need to avoid may contain products?
• What other tree nuts can she eat?
• Should she be eating them to avoid further allergies developing?

@negomi90 I'm under the allergy clinic for anaphylaxis and it's the advice I was given. It came up because I was worried about being alone in the house (husband works away) and it happening again. I asked whether I should go next door and knock on my neighbours door for help and was told no, to keep as still as possible.

That's such bad advice! If you're on your own and having anaphylaxis you need to raise help. If I'd have stayed still and not sought help when I had my first anaphylaxis I'd be dead.

Well she didn't say don't get help, she said call them instead of going round