Fatal reaction to foods can happen hours later

A warning to parents

To have a child diagnosed with a food allergy is a scary prospect. A small amount of the wrong foods can make their mouth and throat swell and cause changes in heart rate. A severe reaction like this is known as anaphylactic shock and although relatively rare, it can lead to unconsciousness and even death.So news from a team at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario is particularly alarming. They believe that as many as 15% of children with severe allergies can have a second attack, just a few hours after the first. This is referred to as a two-stage or a biphasic anaphylactic reaction.

The team examined the records of 484 children who had visited the ED for anaphylactic shock, in an attempt to measure which groups have a high risk of suffering a second attack.They believe that boys have a slightly higher risk than girls. Those also at risk tend to be between the ages of 6 and 9. Children who needed more than one dose of epinephrine to control the first reaction were also in more danger, as were children who were delayed in getting their first dose of treatment.The team is calling for doctors and parents to be extra vigilant. The message is clear, allergies need to be treated immediately. Children should then remain in hospital for a number of hours following the attack, to ensure a second attack does not occur.

For more on the Canadian study, follow the link here.