Recognizing Patient Allergies Allergies can be very strange and unpredictable. You never know what someone may be allergic to. Medications and substances such as contrast dye can be very serious, and patients should be monitored closely when receiving something new or different. Bee Stings This is a fairly common allergy, and many patients carry an antidote on them when out and exposed. In most cases, a bee sting hurts for a few hours and then gets better. If you’re allergic, you may have a serious reaction. Some people get severe swelling at the site of the sting. A few have lifethreatening symptoms, even if they've never before had an allergic reaction to a bee sting. The riskiest symptoms to watch for are: • • • • • •
Itching, hives, or swelling over a large part of your body -- not just where you got stung Face, throat or tongue starts to swell Trouble breathing Dizziness Stomach cramps Nausea or diarrhea Related: Why You Shouldn't Let Someone Copy Your Nursing Notes If you have these symptoms, use an epinephrine shot, if you carry them with you always have two on hand. Then call 911 immediately. You still need to go to the hospital, even if the shot seemed to work. Use the epinephrine auto-injector if you have any symptoms of anaphylaxis. Even if it turns out to be something else, using the medicine as a precaution won’t harm you. Food Allergies If you have a food allergy, your immune system overreacts to a particular protein found in that food. Symptoms can occur when coming in contact with just a tiny amount of the food. Many food allergies are first diagnosed in young children, though they may also appear in older children and adults. Common foods that are responsible for the majority of allergic reactions : • Cow’s milk • Eggs