Gave my son an Epi Pen!

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Just wondering what you guys would have done, and if you think i overreacted?!

He is 2 years old and pretty verbal. Has a ? allergy to Tuna so we have an Epi Pen jr for this. Yesterday he jumped on a bee hive that was under the ground and started screaming. I grabbed him and ribbed his clothes off and saw a sting on his leg and ear. I asked him where his boo-boo was and he kept pointing to his ear. Listened to his lungs and they were perfectly clear, no hives....but then after about 5 minutes his lips started to swell. I grabbed the Epi, gave it to him and called 911. They were great, O2 was perfect and it was nice to have a 2nd set of ears tell me that he had no wheezing. We figured that he must have been stung in the lip too.

Am i crazy?! :idea:

lol, sometimes i think that too much information/knowledge may sometimes be a bad thing, but you know what...i would have done it again given the same situation. Oral swelling = not something to mess with!

Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

We can't give medical advice. As a Mom and a nurse. I am not sure I would have given the Epi. I probably would have gone to the PCP or the ED even if there was no wheezing, just to be sure. Epi can be a nasty drug even though it saves lives. It's hard to walk between Mom and Nurse. I'd follow up with my PCP/pedi and follow their instructions.

But you did the right thing...when you gave the Epi you called 911

Specializes in LTC.

I would have done the exact same thing. A couple of years ago I managed to get a bee sting to my tongue. My tongue swell horribly. By the time i got to the ER (after driving to my parents house and then making them drive me to the ER) my tongue would occlude my airway if I positioned my head the wrong way.

Even though it wasn't a true allergic reaction I still needed emergency intervention and I was stupid as heck to make someone drive me to the ER. In exhausted rambling confusion; you did the right thing.

With multiple stings, especially over the collar bone, I would have done the same thing. And I'm glad you called 911.

Hope your kid is okay!

Best wishes.

Thanks guys - def not looking for medical advice =) I agree its a fine line between momma and nurse!

Specializes in ICU + Infection Prevention.

If I see a ped with facial swelling when the face was not the site of the allergen exposure, I'm definitely thinking 911 and do they have an epipen.

Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
Thanks guys - def not looking for medical advice =) I agree its a fine line between momma and nurse!

:hug: It must have been so scary.......:) I hope your baby's better.

Specializes in ER, ICU.

Good job Mom! It may or may not have been necessary but who cares, your kid is safe.

Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

As above - who knows if it was necessary or not. The important thing is that your baby is fine.

Take care.

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