Nurse Warns ‘Impending Sense of Doom’ May Indicate a Life-Threatening Reaction

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Parents have been told to learn the warning signs of a reaction to some popular Easter treats ahead of the long weekend.

From hot cross buns to chocolate eggs and special Sunday roasts, for many families the food is a significant part of Easter celebrations. However, this can rapidly become a lethal situation for some, as one nurse highlighted.

Hannah Kramer, a clinical nurse specialist at the Allergy Centre of Excellence, encouraged parents to familiarise themselves with the warning signs, and differences, between anaphylaxis and an allergic reaction. One can quickly become life-threatening with an ‘impending sense of doom’, while the other can escalate over several hours.

The expert explained: “When someone has an immediate food allergy, the reaction typically begins within seconds or minutes of exposure to the food, and within a 2-hour window from there. These symptoms would be treated with a dose of antihistamine.”

Milk, one of the most common ingredients in Easter egg hunts, is also one of the most common food allergies among babies and toddlers in the UK. The thousands of children with egg, nut and wheat allergies may be facing similar problems this Easter.

A mild or ‘typical’ allergic reaction that is usually treated with antihistamines may include symptoms like:

• Itching in or around the mouth
• Facial swelling
• Sneezing or suddenly runny nose
• Skin rashes
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Itchy hives appearing

According to the NHS, anaphylaxis is a ‘life-threatening allergic reaction’ that can develop within minutes of coming into contact with the item you’re allergic too. Cases of typical allergic reactions may also progress into anaphylaxis.

Hannah explained: “Many people think that anaphylaxis is dramatic and obvious, which of course it can be, but not always. Interestingly, people having anaphylaxis often describe ‘an impending sense of doom’, a sense of panic and fear in response to their physical bodily symptoms.

“The important thing is that anaphylaxis can begin with quite subtle symptoms, such as, for example, that tickly cough that isn’t going away and wasn’t there before. ”

The nurse outlined a straightforward method to identify whether someone is experiencing anaphylaxis by checking their ‘ABC’s:

• A – Airway
• B – Breathing
• C – Circulation

Anaphylaxis impacts the airway through swelling or constriction of the tongue and throat, which can lead to a hoarse voice, trouble swallowing or the sensation of a persistent tickle in the throat. Young children may display a continuous throat-clearing cough as they attempt to manage this symptom.

Breathing that becomes faster, more laboured or strained than normal is another crucial indicator. During anaphylaxis, a person’s blood pressure can plummet suddenly, causing them to appear pale, drowsy, dizzy, confused or even lose consciousness.

She stressed: “Any one of these symptoms alone is reason enough to use adrenaline (either via injection into the thigh, or with a nasal adrenaline spray).

“The most important thing we can teach our families is that if in doubt about what to do, and you think the person is showing any one of the symptoms we just mentioned, give adrenaline.

“It is a very safe medication that wears off within minutes, no harm will be done if you’re wrong. But the longer you wait to give adrenaline, the worse and more dangerous the outcomes could be.”