Babies, Food Allergies & Anaphylaxis
I wish I had been aware that babies can experience serious food allergic reactions. I never imagined there could be a possibility that food could trigger life-threatening anaphylaxis in my baby. The incidence of child anaphylaxis in emergency departments has increased in the UK and globally. Early recognition of the signs and symptoms is therefore crucial for them to receive the correct diagnosis and treatment. This is particularly true among non-verbal babies 12 months of age or younger as Natasha had been.
When I was pregnant with Natasha, I remember how health-conscious I was. I was so careful to eat healthy foods, take regular exercise, almost eliminate my alcohol and caffeine intake and if I caught a cold or had a headache, I wouldn't even take paracetamol! OTT I know, but I loved taking good care of my baby before she was even born - I was going to be in the best shape possible so my baby growing inside me had every chance to be a healthy, bouncy baby when she was born.
Natasha WAS a beautiful, smiley, happy baby, but at 12 weeks old eczema appeared and covered her in painful, itchy sores. I would sew cotton baby booties onto the arms of her baby-grows so that she couldn't scratch herself because if she did, she would bleed. When she was 6 months old I gave her a tiny piece of banana and she went into full anaphylaxis. Our shock and horror cannot be described.
I questioned our GP about the possibility that Natasha could be allergic to cows’ milk because I planned to return to work later that year and I wanted to start weening her in the next few months. I was assured it was highly unlikely that she would have a milk allergy and told to stop worrying. Natasha had her second anaphylactic reaction after I gave her the baby formula.
“I wish I had known that babies can have serious allergic reactions to food. ”
This was something I had never seen in all the baby books I had read. A child's first allergic reaction, especially if it is anaphylaxis is utterly terrifying. As a parent, you are helpless and desperate for your child to receive the right medical treatment asap. I am not surprised that recent studies show that parents who witness their child experience anaphylaxis are often left with PTSS symptoms.
There needs to be much more awareness and knowledge of food allergies presenting in babies and young children. All new parents should know what symptoms to look out for that point to food allergy or anaphylaxis. If they suspect it, to know they must call emergency services immediately!
I wish I had known what to look out for and what to do in an allergic medical emergency.
If you think your baby could be experiencing an anaphylactic reaction, it's important to seek emergency medical advice immediately. If this is your baby's first reaction:
🔺Call 999 for an ambulance, even if your baby seems to be getting better.
🔺Try to keep your baby calm by remaining as calm as possible.
🔺If the trigger is still in contact with your baby, gently remove it if possible. Eg, if the trigger was food, and you can still see some in your baby's mouth, gently take it out. Don't try to make your baby sick though, as this won't help and may make her worse. If your baby was stung by a wasp or bee, and the sting's still in her skin, scrape it off with the edge of your nail. Be careful not to squeeze the sting as you remove it, as this could release more venom and make your baby's reaction worse.
🔺Lie your baby flat on her back, unless she's having trouble breathing, in which case holding her on your lap sitting up, may help her breathe better.
🔺If your baby becomes unconscious, hold her in the recovery position: lying on her side, with her head slightly lower than the rest of her body.
🔺If your baby stops breathing, begin CPR straight away.
If your baby has had an allergic reaction before, your doctor should have given you an emergency plan for what to do if it happens again. If you just suspect your baby could be having another reaction, follow the plan carefully.
If your doctor has prescribed an adrenaline auto-injector for your baby, don't hesitate, to use it straight away. It's better to use it early, even if it turns out not to be necessary, rather than waiting and risking your baby's anaphylaxis getting worse.
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Sources of reference for a baby medical emergency: NHS and babycentre.co.uk