Identifying Allergic Reactions
Below is a list of reaction symptoms that you should be aware of after receiving an allergy injection.
Local Skin Reaction At Injection Site
A skin reaction may occur 20 minutes to 36 hours after an allergy injection. This may include redness and swelling with whealing (raised area of swelling). If the area of swelling becomes larger than 3-4 cm in size (larger than the size of a half dollar), please call our office at (704) 752-7575 for further instructions.
Generalized Allergic Reactions (Anaphylaxis)
These reactions usually occur within 30 minutes of an injection, but can also occur hours later in some cases. Symptoms of an allergic reaction can include:
- Difficulty breathing and/or shortness of breath
- Feeling of anxiety
- Wheezing or high-pitched breathing sounds
- Heart palpitations
- Coughing
- Confusion
- Feeling of throat closing
- Blue skin, especially nail beds/lips
- Tongue, lip, or throat swelling
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Skin flushing/redness
- Abdominal cramping
- Hives and/or generalized itching
- Chest pain
If any of the above symptoms of a generalized allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) occur while in the office, please notify the office staff immediately.
If any of the above symptoms of a generalized allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) occur outside the office, immediately use your epinephrine auto-injector (EAI) and take an antihistamine, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room, and call our office at (704) 752-7575 for further instructions.
You will be given a prescription for an EAI to bring with you for each allergy injection appointment, and to keep with you after receiving an allergy injection in case you should experience a systemic reaction. Also, keep an antihistamine (Benadryl) at home at all times in case you experience a systemic reaction.
**Do not exercise for 1 hour before or 2 hours after you receive an allergy injection, as it can increase your risk of these reactions.
If you need to reach our office after business hours or on the weekend, call (704) 752-7575 to reach the office physician on call.