Allergic reactions can affect different parts of the body. People who are allergic to the same thing can have quite different reactions!
“The last reaction wasn’t too bad, will it be the same next time?”
Usually people know they are having a reaction because it is similar to reactions they have had before, but sometimes things change, and you might have a reaction with cramps and vomiting one time, when before that it might have just been itchy swollen lips and a rash!
“What’s the chances of a future reaction being severe, even life threatening?”
It is also very hard to predict how bad a reaction in the future may be, unfortunately. You will hear people saying that allergic reactions get worse over time, but this is a myth. You may have the same sort of reaction, it may be milder (perhaps because you ate less of the thing you are allergic to), or it may be worse.
How bad a reaction is, depends on a range of different factors, including the following:
- How much of the thing you are allergic to you ate and swallowed
- Your age
- What you are allergic to
- Whether you also have asthma, and how well controlled your asthma is
- Whether you were unwell at the time with a cough or a cold
- Whether you had slept well the night before!
It’s worth asking your allergy nurse or doctor whether they see your child as someone at particular risk or not.
“I’m just terrified what might happen”
The fear of having an allergic reaction is a daily struggle for many families, and can become overwhelming sometimes. This is particularly true when you don’t exactly know what you are allergic to, either because you haven’t yet had testing or because testing has not given a definite answer.
So getting good allergy advice is important. You should ask to be referred to an allergy clinic if you are not satisfied with the advice you have had from your GP, dietician or other professional.
Next, it is really important to get into good food safety habits [link to https://www.cyans.scot.nhs.uk/families/about-allergy/general-food-allergies/safe-food-habits/]. Being careful is good, but not to the point of being anxious. This includes telling people about your allergies, reading labels, asking what’s in your food. If you get into good habits, you not only reduce the risk of a reaction, but just as importantly, you increase your confidence and reduce the fear.
Finally, you should have an antihistamine that you can use in the event of an unexpected reaction, and you should always have it wherever your child goes. Some people may also need to carry an inhaler and/or an adrenaline autoinjector [link to https://www.cyans.scot.nhs.uk/families/adrenaline-autoinjectors/].
Your doctor or allergy nurse should give you a written allergy plan, which explains how and when to use your medicine, and when to seek help – in particular, when should be phoning an ambulance.