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Parents often afraid to use EpiPen

Categories: Preschoolers, Kids 5-7, Health & Safety

Last summer, my six-year-old was stung on the ear by a wasp. Fortunately, he is not allergic, but it was still a harrowing experience; my son flailed around and screamed the entire way home from the park, and then initially refused to take any Benadryl. In the end, everything was fine, but I was worn out when it was all over.

I can't even imagine what I would have done if I'd had to give him a shot. I mean, yes, I would DO it, but I think that might have done me in permanently. And apparently, I'm not alone in this: a new study has found that parents of children with known allergies, the kind that can result in anaphylaxis, are still nervous about using the EpiPen, even when they have been properly trained and are aware that it could save their child's life.

The families in the survey included children with food allergies, primarily to tree nuts; nearly half had had a prior allergic episode. According to the study's authors, familiarity and training with the EpiPen didn't make parents more comfortable using the pen, nor did prior allergic reactions. Instead, it was an understanding of their child's allergy that made the greatest difference in their willingness to give the shot. "Parents who were knowledgeable and felt a sense of empowerment over their child's food allergy and who actually used the EpiPen on their child on a number occasions displayed high levels of comfort in using the device."

Does your child have severe allergies? Have you ever had to administer medication? Were you comfortable doing so, or did it make you nervous?

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