Understanding Allergic Reactions
Allergic reactions happen when your child's immune system overreacts to something it touches, eats, or breathes. Reactions can be mild like a small rash, or severe and life-threatening. Common triggers include foods, medicines, insect bites or stings, and things in the environment like pollen or pets.
What to Expect
- Reactions can be small and local or spread all over the body
- Can affect skin, breathing, stomach, or heart
- Can happen right away (within minutes) or later (hours to days)
- Nine foods cause most allergies: milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, wheat, fish, shellfish, sesame
When to Manage at Home
✅ You can manage your child's allergic reaction at home if:
- Small hives appear only where something touched their skin
- A mild rash shows up around the mouth after eating (common in babies and toddlers)
- A pink/red flat rash develops while taking amoxicillin (often appears day 5-16)
- Breathing is normal- no wheezing, no throat swelling, no trouble talking/crying
- Your child otherwise feels well with no symptoms beyond skin reaction
How to Treat at Home
🏠 Home remedies for allergic reactions:
First Steps
- Wash off whatever caused it with soap and water
- Put a cold pack on itchy spots for 20 minutes
- Give a cool bath for 10 minutes if hives are all over
- Change clothes if caused by pollen or pets
Medicine for Widespread Hives
- Zyrtec (cetirizine) for itchy hives all over:
- 6 months-2 years: 2.5mg (2.5mL) once daily
- 2+ years: follow package directions
- Keep giving until hives are gone for 12 hours
For Rash Around the Mouth from Food
- Wash the food off with soap and water
- Put hydrocortisone cream (1%) on it 3 times a day if itchy (2 days max)
- No Zyrtec needed - this is just skin contact
- Prevent by: wiping face with warm water after meals
For Amoxicillin Rash (Flat Pink/Red Spots)
- Keep giving the antibiotic - finish the whole course
- No treatment needed - goes away in 1-6 days
- Your child can take amoxicillin again in the future
When to Contact Poppins
📱 Contact us again when:
- Hives last more than 24 hours (from food) or 1 week (other causes)
- Still itchy after 24 hours on Zyrtec
- Rash around mouth lasts more than 24 hours
- Bad hives don't improve after 2 doses of Zyrtec
- Flat medicine rash becomes raised and itchy
- You're worried it might be a serious allergy
When to Visit Your Pediatrician
🩺 Go to an in-person appointment when:
- Allergy testing or seeing a specialist
- Getting an EpiPen prescription after a severe reaction
- Creating an emergency plan for school
- Reactions that keep happening
When to Go to the ER/call 911
🚨 Seek immediate emergency care if your child is:
- Trouble breathing, wheezing, or throat feels tight
- Can't swallow or is drooling
- Feels faint, dizzy, or "something bad is about to happen"
- Hives all over PLUS throwing up
- Known severe allergy and exposed to that trigger again
- Used their EpiPen - always go to ER after using it
Good to Know
- Hives aren't contagious - your child can go back to school when feeling better
- Food allergy hives usually go away within 6 hours
- Virus-related hives can come and go for 3-4 days
- Always carry 2 EpiPens if your child has them prescribed
- Make sure school and caregivers have your child's allergy action plan
Trust your instincts - if something doesn't feel right, reach out. Need help? Our medical team is available 24/7 through text.
