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0 pointsmodeless2y ago0 comments

The risk of dying from anaphylaxis is almost universally exaggerated. There is a lot of fearmongering about it, especially for parents.

The truth is, even for food allergic people, the risk of death is low compared to other causes. EpiPens are very effective. Also, anaphylaxis is a very temporary condition. If you do get anaphylaxis then after a very short recovery period there are zero long term effects to worry about.

It's questionable whether intensive and risky treatments are warranted in most cases (remember Xolair carries its own risk of anaphylaxis).

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Antipodes4562y ago

Yes but that's not the full story... .It's true that the odds of dying from anaphylaxis are low, IF treated in time.

The sad thing is that the vast majority of all deaths from allergic reactions are preventable.

Things like not acting immediately and injecting Epipen in the first few minutes, not following up with a 2nd shot if no improvement in 15min. Having expired pens. Kids grow, and need larger pens. Teacher panics and uses pen upside down. Kids try foods as a teen or when they leave home as they "used to be allergic"

As the parent of an Parent of anaphylactic 7 year old - the fear is real. Low odds, but catastrophic outcome.

We are lucky that my partner is a nurse and we are knowledgable and manage places we go, but daycare, schools, birthday situations etc are a worry

*edited - typo

washadjeffmad2y ago

My friend's son went into anaphylaxis while out with his girlfriend, and even though she carried a spare pen, the needle bent when it hit a seam in his pants, rendering it unusable.

She called sobbing that she'd killed him, but someone had an expired pen, and he ended up okay after getting to the hospital. Still, you never know if it could be the one.

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