What substances are
most likely to cause a
severe reaction?
There are many
possible allergens,
but these are the most
common:
• Peanuts, tree
nuts (such as walnuts
and cashews),
shellfish (like shrimp
and lobster), fish,
milk, and eggs are the
most common culprits,
although any food can
cause a severe
allergic reaction. (A
great deal of research
is being done on
whether delaying the
introduction of
potentially allergenic
foods will delay the
onset of allergies in
allergy-prone
children. If
food
allergies run in your
family, your child may
be more susceptible.)
• Drugs in the
penicillin family
(including the popular
antibiotic
amoxicillin)
• Insect bites and
stings (especially
from bumblebees,
honeybees, yellow
jackets, hornets,
wasps, fire ants, and
harvester ants)
• Latex (often used
in healthcare
facilities)
• Food
preservatives and
colorings (like FDC
yellow No. 5)
What should I do if my
baby seems to be
having a severe
allergic reaction?
Call 911
immediately if your
baby is having trouble
breathing or passes
out. Lay him down with
his feet elevated to
reduce the risk of
shock. Try to keep him
calm by talking to him
and by remaining calm
yourself.
Don't give your baby
an antihistamine if
he's younger than 6
months. Even if he's
older, don't give him
an antihistamine if
he's having any
trouble breathing or
swallowing, because he
may choke on it.
When the paramedics
arrive, they'll
probably treat your
baby on the spot with
an injection of
epinephrine that will
stop the reaction
within minutes.
(Epinephrine makes the
heart beat more
strongly, relaxes the
muscles in the airway,
reduces swelling, and
improves tone in the
blood vessels to
increase blood flow to
vital areas like the
heart and brain.)
The paramedics will
take your baby to the
hospital, where he'll
be examined and
watched for delayed
reactions. The doctors
at the hospital can
help you determine
what caused the
problem. You'll want
to follow up with your
baby's doctor, who
will probably refer
you to a pediatric
allergist.
What can I do to
protect my baby from
anaphylactic shock?
The best prevention
is to avoid any known
allergens as well as
the substances that
commonly cause serious
allergic reactions.
If your baby is
allergic to certain
foods, it will take
only a trace amount to
trigger a reaction, so
it's important to read
labels carefully and
ask at restaurants or
friends' houses
whether a meal
contains any of the
off-limit items.
You'll need to be
vigilant about this
for your child until
he can do it for
himself. For more
tips, check out the
Food Allergy Network.
If insect bites or
stings cause trouble,
help your baby find
places to play that
are free of bugs.
Don't rely on bug
sprays — they don't
repel bees and fire
ants, which commonly
sting children.
In addition, once your
baby can walk, don't
let him toddle around
outside barefoot. Many
children are stung
when they
unintentionally step
on a stinging or
biting insect.
If your child has had
a severe allergic
reaction, his doctor
may recommend that
when he gets a little
older you carry an
EpiPen Jr., a penlike
injection device
loaded with
epinephrine. It's
designed for children
weight 33 to 66 pounds
(15 to 30 kilograms)
and is available by
prescription only.
Also make sure anyone
who ever cares for
your baby —
caregivers, daycare
workers, relatives —
knows about your
child's allergies and
exactly what to do if
he has a reaction.
Finally, once your
baby has had a severe
reaction such as
anaphylaxis, it's
important for him to
wear a medical-alert
ID bracelet (available
in most pharmacies).
This will alert
healthcare providers
to his condition in
case of an emergency.
