The short wait for the ambulance seemed an eternity. I will never forget his tiny face swollen like a balloon as he clung to me, distressed and vomiting. At hospital, he was injected with adrenaline, anti-histamines and hydrocortisone, but it was several hours before the swelling subsided. His life is potentially in danger every time he eats. Even the slightest trace of the allergen can set off a chain reaction of chemicals in the body as the immune system overreacts, leading to leaking blood vessels, bronchial swelling and a drop in blood pressure, resulting in choking and collapse.
Symptoms can also include hives, faintness and unconsciousness, swelling, asthma and vomiting.
Five or six deaths from food-induced anaphylactic shock are reported every year in this country, with anaphylaxis affecting up to one million people. One in every 200 children has an allergy to peanuts alone. Statistics also show that very few children die, largely due to the vigilence of their parents. Yet despite the increasing number of allergy sufferers, getting the correct diagnosis and treatment can be a lottery. While some parts of the country have allergists and clinical immunologists specially trained in the field, other areas do not.