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EpiPen in milk, peanut, and food allergy

December 11, 2001


Dear Allergy Nurse

What's EpiPen? How does it help a child when she experiences milk/peanut allergy? -- Cathy, Canada

Food allergies can be deadly. Peanut allergy is one of the most common food allergies, and it causes some of the most severe reactions. The problem isn't always eating something that "contains" the food you are allergic to.

One of our patients reported a severe reaction after eating at a trusted restaurant. She'd been assured that her food did not contain black pepper, to which she is highly allergic. But she later learned that it had been deep fried in oil previously used for food seasoned with black pepper. People with documented peanut allergy have reported severe reactions after eating cookies stirred with a spoon that had previously been used to stir peanut butter cookies. At a recent meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, Dr. Rosemary Hallett reported results of a survey in which people with nut allergy indicated severe reactions after kissing someone who had eaten the nut to which they are allergic.

Epinephrine is the first-line emergency drug for these reactions. EpiPen looks similar to a ball-point pen, but it contains a dose of epinephrine that can be easily injected by an older child or an adult. I let patients practice on themselves with a fake EpiPen made especially for teaching purposes. The EpiPen may provide temporary relief of symptoms, but is important to go to an emergency medical facility immediately after using it.


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Your Allergy Nurse

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References:

  1. Peanut Allergy, Allergy and Asthma Disease Management Center, American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
  2. Reactions to nuts and seeds triggered by kissing, American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI), July 7,2002.