Emergency Treatment of Allergic Reactions in Children

How can I avoid my child having an allergic reaction?

Your child must avoid contact with the allergen (the substance your child is allergic to).

If you child is allergic to a food type, the ingredients of all foods eaten must be checked carefully, for example, nuts can be hidden in foods as nut oils or essences.

What should I do if my child has an allergic reaction?

A referral to the allergy clinic may be made if your child is not already known to the service. Please ask your child’s Consultant or the Paediatric Nurse if you are unsure or have any questions about your child’s treatment.

What type of reaction could my child have?

Mild/moderate reaction:

The symptoms include:

• Hives or itchy nettle rash.
• Swelling of the lips, face or eyes.
• Nausea (feeling sick).
• Itchy/tingling of the tongue and throat.
• Vomiting (being sick) and stomach (tummy) ache.
• Sudden change in behaviour.

How do I treat my child’s mild/moderate allergic reaction?

You must give your child antihistamine medicine or tablets, immediately, as prescribed by their Doctor. This dose should be repeated after 20 minutes if no improvement.

You should take your child to see to see their GP if you are worried.

Severe (life threatening) allergic reaction/Anaphylaxis

The symptoms or anaphylaxis can include any of the symptoms for a mild or moderate reaction, and:

• Difficulty in breathing or choking (a feeling of closing up of the throat).
• Persistent cough.
• Severe wheeze or chest tightness.
• Difficulty in swallowing or speaking (including a hoarse voice).
• Swollen tongue.
• Pale, floppiness, undue sleepiness, collapse or loss of consciousness.

How do I treat my child’s severe allergic reaction?

1. You must telephone 999 for an ambulance immediately. Tell the operator this is an emergency; a case of anaphylaxis and where your child is.
2. Lie the child flat with legs raised (if breathing is difficult, allow the child to sit).
3. Use adrenaline auto-injector without delay. This can be injected against outer thigh (with or without clothing).

If no improvement after 5 minutes, give a further dose of adrenaline using a second auto-injectable device, if available. You must follow your child’s treatment plan and the instructions provided with the injection device.

Keep your child lying down on his or her side until the paramedics (ambulance) arrive, do not stand your child up.

Commence CPR if there are no signs of life.

Contact Numbers

If you have any worries or concerns you should contact your GP during normal surgery hours. Outside surgery hours, you should contact your GP’s surgery for the Out of Hours Service number.

University Hospital of North Tees

Children’s and Young Person’s Emergency Department

Telephone: 01642 624533 or 01642 383450

24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Further Information is available from

NHS Choices

Telephone: 111 (when it is less urgent than 999)

Calls to this number are free from landlines and mobile phones or via the website at www.nhs.uk

Allergy UK

Planwell House

LEFA Business Park

Edington Way

Sidcup

Kent

DA14 5BH

Telephone: 01322 619898

or via the website at www.allergyuk.org

Anaphylaxis Campaign

1 Alexandra Road

Farnborough

Hampshire

GU14 6BU

Telephone: 01254 542029

Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm

or via the website at www.anaphylaxis.org.uk

ALK-Abello Ltd (for patients with Jext pens)

1 Manor Park

Manor Farm Road

Reading

Berkshire

RG2 0NA

Telephone: 01189 037940

or via the website at www.jext.co.uk

Epipens (for patients with Epipens)

www.epipen.co.uk

Jext pens (for patients with Jext pens)

www.jext.co.uk

Comments, concerns, compliments or complaints

Patient Experience Team (PET)

We are continually trying to improve the services we provide. We want to know what we’re doing well or if there’s anything which we can improve, that’s why the Patient Experience Team (PET) is here to help. Our Patient Experience Team is here to try to resolve your concerns as quickly as possible. The office is based on the ground floor at the University Hospital of North Tees if you wish to discuss concerns in person. If you would like to contact or request a copy of our PET leaflet, please contact:

Telephone: 01642 624719

Freephone: 0800 092 0084

Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9:30am to 4:00pm

Email: [email protected]

Out of hours

Out of hours if you wish to speak to a senior member of Trust staff, please contact the hospital switchboard who will bleep the appropriate person.

Telephone: 01642 617617

Data protection and use of patient information

The Trust has developed Data Protection policies in accordance with Data Protection Legislation (UK General Data Protection Regulations and Data Protection Act 2018) and the Freedom of Information Act 2000. All of our staff respect these policies and confidentiality is adhered to at all times. If you require further information on how we process your information please see our Privacy Notices.

Telephone: 01642 383551

Email: [email protected]

Leaflet feedback

This leaflet has been produced in partnership with patients and carers. All patient leaflets are regularly reviewed, and any suggestions you have as to how it may be improved are extremely valuable. Please write to the Clinical Governance team, North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, University Hospital of North Tees, TS19 8PE or:

Email: [email protected]