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Learning To Recognize Child Medication Allergies

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During the course of treatment, a child may come into contact with a medication that causes him or her to have a child medication allergy. Child medication allergies can exist to nearly every type of medication, either to the drug itself or to inactive ingredients contained in the formulation. Knowing how to recognize child medication allergies, and what to do in the event one does present, is important for every parent.

What Symptoms Indicate Child Medication Allergies?

Child medication allergies cause a range of symptoms that may be only minorly irritating or severely life-threatening. Most cases of child medication allergy include symptoms such as

• Hives
• Swelling (particularly of the mouth, face, or throat)
• Skin rash
• Redness
• Itchy skin
• Itchy eyes
• Congestion

Severe reactions, which may become life threatening and require immediate emergency medical attention, include

• Swelling of the throat
• Airway constriction
• Difficulty breathing
• Difficulty swallowing
• Dizziness or faintness
• Loss of consciousness
• Drop in blood pressure
• Quickened pulse
• Confusion or disorientation
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal pain or cramping

It is important to note that symptoms may occur immediately after the first dose of a new medication, or they may not appear until after an intolerable amount of medication has been absorbed by the system; this can take several doses of the medication. Also, it is possible for a child to develop child medication allergies to medicines they have taken before with no apparent symptoms, so it is always important to be watchful of your child if he or she is taking medications of any kind.

Any time symptoms of child medication allergies exist, an allergy should be suspected; there are times, however, when symptoms such as skin rash or hives result from the illness and not from an allergy. It is a coincidence that may result in unnecessary restriction of a medication, but with a variety of highly effective medications, the assumption and caution are worthwhile, and harm is not really done. If it becomes necessary, further testing can proceed to confirm child medication allergies.

Diagnosis of child medication allergy relies mainly on the symptoms. Skin tests can confirm some suspected child medication allergies, but they are often contra-indicated because exposure to even small amounts of allergen for skin testing may be dangerous for some patients. Unless there is a good argument for testing, doctors will often choose to err on the side of caution and seek other treatment options for the affected child.

What Medicines Are Most Likely To Cause Child Medication Allergies?

Any medication has the potential to be allergenic to some child, but some are more common allergens than others. The drugs that cause the majority of child medication allergies are

• Penicillin and similar medications
• Sulfa drugs
• Barbiturates
• Insulin
• Anti-convulsive drugs
• Iodine

What Should I Do If My Child Has Symptoms Of A Child Medication Allergy?

The first step to take when child medication allergies are suspected is to call the child's doctor (unless of course symptoms are severe—then the first step is to call for emergency medical help!). Stop giving the medication to the child until the doctor has the opportunity to assess the situation; return to treatment only under the advice and supervision of the physician.

The next step is to relieve the symptoms of child medication allergies. Doctors recommend giving the child an oral antihistamine to break the reaction, and decongestants if needed to clear congestion. Oatmeal baths and anti-itch creams may also help relieve skin rash symptoms, as well as warm or cool compresses.

What Measures Should I Take Regarding Future Medical Care When My Child Has A Child Medication Allergy?

Staying allergy-symptom free in the future relies on informing the medical community of the child's medication allergy. All medical charts and histories should always include an allergy alert, and the allergy should be verbally reiterated prior to treatment; older children should learn about their allergy and be taught to voice it to medical personnel freely. A medic-alert bracelet, card, or necklace can warn medical personnel of an allergy in case of emergency.

As with many allergies, management of child medication allergies relies on avoiding the allergen trigger. In the case of medication avoidance, the best defense is a communication offense.

 

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