Gave my son an Epi Pen!

Nurses General Nursing

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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!

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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

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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.

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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.

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

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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.

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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.

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Specializes in ER, ICU.

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

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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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