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My son was just told he has a peanut allergy. What is anaphylaxis exactly"
Anaphylaxis, or an allergic reaction, is a multi-system response to an allergen. In your son?s case, that?s peanuts, but other common allergens include medicine, latex and insect stings. Generally, you?ll see an allergic reaction within minutes of exposure, though it can be delayed by a few hours. A reaction may involve any of the symptoms below, and true anaphylaxis involves two or more of the following categories.

Skin: hives, swelling, warmth, redness, itchiness
Respiratory system: wheezing, coughing, difficulty breathing, throat tightness, runny nose, trouble swallowing
Gastrointestinal: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain Cardiovascular: pallor (pale skin tone), cyanosis (bluish cast to the skin), dizziness, fainting, weak pulse, low blood pressure
Other: headache, anxiety, feeling of impending doom

If you see any symptoms of anaphylaxis, call 911 immediately. Parents often ask me if they should give diphenhydramine, such as Benadryl, and wait to see what happens. Absolutely not. An allergic reaction can quickly kill a child. If your child has no other symptoms than hives and is otherwise well, make an appointment with your physician to have him checked out. But if more than one body system is involved, call 911. Your child may need a life-saving dose of epinephrine with an EpiPen. Every kid who has an allergy should carry an EpiPen at all times, and parents sho...