If your child may be having a severe allergic reaction, fast action matters. Get clear, parent-friendly guidance on anaphylaxis emergency signs, when to call 911, and what to do after using epinephrine.
Start with what you’re seeing right now to get personalized guidance about severe allergic reaction warning signs, including trouble breathing, throat swelling, fainting, or symptoms getting worse.
Call 911 for an allergic reaction if your child has trouble breathing, wheezing, throat tightness, a hoarse voice, trouble swallowing, fainting, severe weakness, confusion, blue or pale skin, or is hard to wake. These can be signs of anaphylaxis, which is a medical emergency. If symptoms are spreading quickly or getting worse, emergency care is the safest next step.
Call 911 for trouble breathing, wheezing, noisy breathing, repeated coughing, or if your child cannot speak or cry normally because of the reaction.
Call 911 for throat swelling, tightness, trouble swallowing, drooling, a hoarse voice, or swelling of the tongue or lips that seems to be progressing.
Call 911 if your child faints, seems floppy, is unusually sleepy, hard to wake, dizzy, confused, or looks suddenly very weak or unwell.
A reaction affecting breathing plus skin, or vomiting plus swelling, can point to anaphylaxis. Hives alone may not always be an emergency, but hives with breathing, throat, stomach, or fainting symptoms are more concerning.
If the reaction is spreading fast, swelling is increasing, vomiting is repeated, or your child looks worse minute by minute, call 911 for a severe allergic reaction.
Parents often notice when a reaction looks different from a mild allergy flare. If your child seems to be in distress or you are worried about anaphylaxis emergency signs, it is appropriate to call 911.
If epinephrine has been given for suspected anaphylaxis, call 911 or seek emergency medical care right away. Symptoms can return after seeming to improve, and your child may need monitoring and additional treatment. Do not wait to see if the reaction fully passes at home after using epinephrine.
If your child has an epinephrine auto-injector and you suspect anaphylaxis, use it as directed without delay. Epinephrine is the first-line treatment for severe allergic reactions.
Have your child lie down if possible, unless breathing is easier sitting up. Avoid sudden standing or walking. If vomiting, turn them on their side.
Tell 911 what allergen may be involved, when symptoms started, what symptoms you see, and whether epinephrine or other medicines were given.
Call 911 right away if your child has trouble breathing, wheezing, throat tightness, trouble swallowing, fainting, severe weakness, or symptoms involving more than one body system, such as hives with vomiting or breathing changes.
Hives alone are not always an emergency, but if hives happen with swelling, vomiting, breathing symptoms, throat symptoms, dizziness, or the reaction is getting worse, call 911 because it may be anaphylaxis.
Yes. After using epinephrine for a suspected severe allergic reaction, call 911 or get emergency medical care right away. Your child may need monitoring because symptoms can return or continue.
If your child has breathing trouble, throat symptoms, fainting, severe weakness, or a rapidly worsening reaction, treat it as an emergency and call 911. If you are unsure but the reaction seems serious, emergency evaluation is the safest choice.
Answer a few questions about your child’s symptoms to get clear next-step guidance for possible anaphylaxis, including when to call 911 and when emergency evaluation is recommended.
Answer a Few QuestionsExplore more assessments in this topic group.
See related assessments across this category.
Find more parenting assessments by category and topic.
Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis