FollowAllergies can manifest in various ways, sometimes catching us off guard and causing significant discomfort. Last Wednesday, Sherilyn had a harrowing experience with hives, triggered by an allergic reaction. And this happened just two months after my hives attack.
That evening, Sherilyn returned home from her part-time work at a café and had dinner before heading to her dance class. Little did we know that this routine evening would take an unexpected turn. Sherilyn’s dinner consisted of rice with chili prawns and Ayam Kuzi, a delightful meal she had enjoyed before without any issues. However, on her way to the dance class, she began experiencing itchy hives on her limbs, signaling an allergic reaction.
Sherilyn would occasionally get itchy lips after eating prawns but this allergic reaction does not happen all the time after eating prawns. It’s a hit-and-miss kind of allergy, so we cannot really say that she has an allergy to prawns. But we suspect that she may be allergic to the chemicals used in farmed prawns.
By the time Sherilyn’s dance class concluded around 10 pm, the hives had intensified, spreading to her hands, legs, and back, accompanied by severe itching. Alarmed by her discomfort, her dad rushed her to the Accident and Emergency department of the hospital for immediate medical assistance. Sherilyn’s condition worsened as she also experienced slight difficulty talking and body spasms.
At the A&E, the medical officer administered steroid injections to alleviate the itching and rash. Concerned about Sherilyn’s well-being, the attending medical officer recommended hospitalization for monitoring purposes. The next morning, a physician was assigned to care for Sherilyn. He recommended that Sherilyn stayed in the hospital for another night. However, as her symptoms improved, and with the hospital conveniently located just minutes away from our home, I asked the attending physician if it was OK to discharge Sherilyn. The doctor agreed, emphasizing our responsibility for her continued care at home, and stated that should any untoward incidences happen to Sherilyn at home, the doctor and the hospital would not be held accountable. I agreed.
From the time Sherilyn arrived at the hospital at night to the time she was discharged the next day, she received three steroid injections and was put on a drip to ensure hydration.
Although Sherilyn had experienced occasional itchy lips after eating prawns in the past, this severe reaction was unexpected. Allergies can be unpredictable, and even familiar foods can trigger adverse reactions later in life. You can randomly develop food allergies as an adult.
To manage her condition after her discharge from the hospital, Sherilyn was prescribed oral steroid pills, which she had to take six pills once a day for a week. Additionally, she was given two types of antihistamines – one that causes drowsiness and another that does not. As a precautionary measure, she also has to take an anti-gastric pill to counteract any potential gastric side effects from the steroid medication.
The unexpected hospital stay resulted in a substantial bill of nearly three thousand Ringgit. We hope that Sherilyn’s insurance coverage will help alleviate this financial burden, although claim approvals are subject to their policies and terms.
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