What is an
anaphylactic reaction?
An anaphylactic reaction, or anaphylaxis, is a severe allergic reaction. Symptoms can start very quickly and it could be life-threatening. 
 
Anaphylaxis is caused by an allergen that triggers an immune response in the body. This is your body’s way of trying to protect itself. Common allergens include food, some insects (like bees or wasps), and medications.
Symptoms

Children can have different reactions and symptoms to different types of allergens. 

Anaphylaxis can affect different areas of the body. 

Symptoms of anaphylaxis may be different in babies. You may notice your baby cries more or is very tired (lethargic).

Your baby may also have some of the symptoms listed above.

What to do if your child
is having an anaphylactic reaction?

Keep your child lying down unless they are short-of-breath or vomiting

Click the icon to view

With ephinephrine

Without ephinephrine

If you have an epinephrine autoinjector, give your child the epinephrine autoinjector and seek emergency care by either calling 911 or going to the emergency department

EpiPen®

Remember: Blue to the sky, orange to the thigh

Allerject®

Remember: Remove red safety guard, press black end to the thigh

Emerade™

Remember: Remove the lid, press pen into the thigh

Epinephrine autoinjectors expire. Be sure to keep your child’s ephinephrine prescription updated. 

Treatment

An anaphylactic reaction is treated with epinephrine, also known as adrenaline. Epinephrine is a medication that can reverse the effects of an anaphylactic reaction. It works quickly but it is not long lasting.

 

Epinephrine is available in Canada as the EpiPen®, Allerject®, and Emerade™. To learn how to use your child’s epinephrine autoinjectors, click the links below: 

Always take your child to the hospital after an anaphylactic reaction, even if they feel better with epinephrine. 

 

It is important for your child to be monitored for rebound reactions. A rebound reaction is when symptoms of anaphylaxis come back after treatment, usually within 3-24 hours. It happens about 15% of the time, and is more common if the reaction was severe or if treatment took a long time.

It may take a few days for your child to feel 100% better after an anaphylactic reaction.

 

If your child has another anaphylactic reaction, give them epinephrine immediately and go to your nearest emergency department

 

Follow up with your child’s doctor or allergist after they have had an anaphylactic reaction and needed epinephrine. 

Diagnosis

Your child may be referred to see an allergist, a doctor that specializes in allergies. They can use tests that help find out what caused your child’s anaphylactic reaction, and how strong the reaction was. These tests will help your allergist come up with an action plan that works for you and your child.

Action Plan

It is important for you and your child to learn how to recognize and manage the symptoms of anaphylaxis.

 

Work with your doctor to create a personalized action plan to keep track of your child’s allergens, epinephrine expiry date, and the number of epinephrine autoinjectors they will need.

Prevent anaphylactic reactions by
  • Removing allergens from your home
  • Knowing how to recognize and manage symptoms
  • Talking to your child’s school and care-providers about their anaphylaxis and how to keep them safe
  • Making sure that epinephrine is always available to your child’s care providers, including families, schools, and daycares
  • Making sure care providers are familiar with how to use your child’s epinephrine autoinjectors

It’s important to teach your child:

  • How to avoid allergens
  • To always have their epinephrine with them
  • What to do if they are having an anaphylactic reaction, and
  • To wear a medical identification bracelet that lists what they are allergic to
Useful links

Food Allergy

Canada

My health – Alberta

Anaphylactic Reaction

TREKK – Anaphylaxis 

Resources for Kids

Contact Us

echokt@ualberta.ca

www.echokt.ca

This research was funded by 

the Canadian Institutes of Health Research

© ECHO Research and ARCHE, 2021. This resource may not be modified, reproduced or distributed without prior written consent of ECHO Research and ARCHE. Contact shannon.scott@ualberta.ca

The information contained in this video/multimedia content (the “Multimedia”) is provided on an “as is” basis and is offered for general information and educational purposes only; it is not offered as and does not constitute professional advice. There is no guarantee about the accuracy, applicability, fitness or completeness of the information found in the Multimedia. This information is provided without warranty of any kind, and the University of Alberta, its agents, employees, and students disclaim responsibility to any party for any loss or damage of any kind that may arise directly or indirectly as a result of the use of or reliance on the information contained in the Multimedia.

Physical treatments can include physiotherapy, prescribed exercise plans, strengthening exercises, massage, and more. 

Psychological treatments can include counselling or talk therapy, supportive therapy, cognitive behaviour therapy, mediation, and more. They can be provided on a one-on-one basis or in a group setting. 

Disclaimer

The information contained in the video/multimedia content (the “Multimedia”) is provided on an “as is” basis and is offered for general information and educational purposes only; it is not offered as and does not constitute professional advice. There is no guarantee about the accuracy, applicability, fitness or completeness of the information found in the Multimedia. This information is provided without warranty of any kind, and the University of Alberta, its agents, employees, and students disclaim responsibility to any party for any loss or damage of any kind that may arise directly or indirectly as a result of the use of or reliance on the information contained in the Multimedia.

These resources may not be modified, reproduced or distributed without prior written consent of ECHO Research. Contact shannon.scott@ualberta.ca.