Preventing an attack

You can help prevent an attack with these tips: 

• Know your child’s allergies or triggers. Make sure your child stays away from them. Anaphylactic shock can lead to death.

• Tell your child’s healthcare provider, dentist, and pharmacist about any allergies your child has to foods and medicines.

• Ask your child's healthcare provider if your child should see an allergist. This is a healthcare provider who focuses on treating allergies. Also ask if allergy shots (immunotherapy) will help your child.

• When eating at restaurants, tell restaurant staff workers about your child’s food allergies before ordering your child's food. If your child has a food allergy, ask about ingredients and possible cross contamination of foods.

• Know which foods and medicines may cause a cross-reaction. Read the food and drug labels and their manufacturer information with care.

Using epinephrine auto-injectors

• Ask your child’s healthcare provider to prescribe an epinephrine auto-injector for your child. This is a single-dose injection kit of epinephrine (adrenaline). With the auto-injector, you can give your child a shot of medicine to help stop the allergic reaction until medical help gets there. You should have 2 doses with your child at all times. Make an anaphylaxis action plan with your child's healthcare provider or allergist.

• Learn how to give your child a shot. If it makes you uncomfortable, remind yourself that you are saving your child’s life. Ask your child's healthcare team to show you how to use the epinephrine auto-injector.

• If your child is old enough, teach them to use the epinephrine auto-injector.

• Make sure you check the expiration date of the epinephrine auto-injector.

• Keep more than one epinephrine auto-injector on hand. Carry one kit with you. Keep one at your child’s school or daycare center. Keep one at home where it’s easy to find.

• Make sure your child's healthcare provider gives you instructions on how to train others to use the auto-injector or medicine. Give them to your child's school, daycare center, or babysitter.

Warning others

• Have your child wear a medical ID bracelet. It should list your child's allergy and tell others what to do in an emergency. Ask your child's healthcare provider how to get one.

• Tell your family, friends, and others what they should do if your child has a severe allergic reaction and you aren’t there:

  • Show them how to use the epinephrine auto-injector.

  • Tell them to call 911 and to give your child a shot of epinephrine if they think your child is having a reaction.

  • Ask them to start CPR if your child stops breathing.

  • Tell them to make sure your child lies down with legs raised during the reaction.

  • Tell them to wash their hands and clean surfaces and utensils when preparing food.

Follow-up

Make a follow-up visit with your child's healthcare provider.

Continue giving the medicine as prescribed by your child's healthcare provider.

When to get medical help

Use the epinephrine auto-injector and call 911 right away if your child has symptoms of anaphylaxis: 

• Drowsiness, fainting, or loss of consciousness

• Racing pulse

• Wheezing or trouble breathing

• Shortness of breath

• Nausea and vomiting

• Swelling of the lips, tongue, or throat

• Itchy, red, blotchy skin, rash, or hives

• Pale, cool, damp skin

• Confusion

• Sneezing, congestion, or runny nose

• Stomach pain or cramps