What Is Anaphylaxis? Our Essential Parent's Guide to Severe Allergic Reactions

Anaphylaxis is a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction. It affects multiple systems of the body, and requires immediate emergency attention. It usually appears suddenly.

If your child develops anaphylaxis, they will need immediate emergency attention. Inject epinephrine (an Epi-pen) immediately, and call 911.

According to FARE (Food Allergy Research and Education), “more than 40 percent of children with food allergies and more than half of adults with food allergy have experienced a severe allergic reaction such as anaphylaxis.”

And based on a study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, the overall number of U.S. children’s emergency room visits for anaphylaxis has increased in recent years.

What could cause anaphylaxis?

Any allergic reaction from food, an insect sting, or medicine could cause anaphylaxis.

• Food allergies are the most common cause of anaphylaxis. Peanuts and tree nuts are the foods most commonly associated with anaphylactic reactions. However, any type of food could cause anaphylaxis if someone eats a food they are allergic to.

• Insect stings, from bees, wasps, hornets or yellow jackets, can also cause anaphylaxis if someone is allergic to sting venom.

• And sometimes, medicines can cause anaphylaxis if someone is allergic to a medicine.

With food allergies, the same person can have varying symptoms from one food allergic reaction to the next. So, it doesn’t matter if your child has only had mild or moderate food allergy reactions previously, or has never had a food allergic reaction.Any food allergic reaction could develop into anaphylaxis.

Most importantly, keep in mind that even an allergic reaction that starts out mild or moderate could quickly develop into anaphylaxis. Closely watch your child any time that they have an allergic reaction, and treat every allergic reaction seriously.

How to know if my child has anaphylaxis?

When the symptoms of an allergic reaction are severe, and involve more than one organ system, the reaction is classified as anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis can be life-threatening.

These severe allergic reaction symptoms may indicate that your child has anaphylaxis:

• Difficulty breathing/shortness of breath
• Swelling of the throat
• Tightness of the throat
• Swelling of the tongue
• Difficulty swallowing
• Hives that spread to many areas of the body
• Persistent, significant coughing
• Wheezing/noisy breathing
• Change in voice or cry
• Difficulty vocalizing
• Pale appearance
• Diarrhea
• Repeated vomiting
• Dizziness
• Fainting/collapse
• Drop in blood pressure
• Rapid heartbeat
• Loss of consciousness
• Feeling floppy (only in babies and younger children)

Remember: severe symptoms that affect at least two organ systems = anaphylaxis.

Anaphylaxis symptoms will usually emerge within seconds to minutes after someone is exposed to their allergen (after they eat a food, get stung by an insect, or take medicine that they are allergic to). However, symptoms may also appear an hour or two after exposure.

Treating Anaphylaxis: Give Epinephrine Immediately

An epinephrine injection is the only medicine that can stop anaphylaxis. It can quickly reverse the life-threatening anaphylaxis symptoms and save your child's life.

Epinephrine is given with an auto-injector (also called an Epi-pen).

When your child develops anaphylaxis, they will need immediate emergency attention. Give epinephrine immediately, and call 911.

It’s crucial that your child receives epinephrine as soon as possible.

If you think your child has anaphylaxis (even if you have some doubts), inject epinephrine.

Follow this rule: If your child shows severe allergic reaction symptoms, use the Epi-Pen right away!

Learn when and how to give epinephrine from Nationwide Children’s Hospital. (If you need to give epinephrine immediately, skip to 2:52.)