If you experience seasonal allergies and live in Arizona, you’re likely feeling the effects of the higher-than-normal pollen count this month. And you’re not alone; an estimated 67 million adults (roughly 26% of us) suffer from seasonal allergies in the United States. 

An allergic reaction occurs when the body’s immune system identifies a harmless substance as a threat and activates a reaction to fight it. The immune system develops antibodies to fight the substance, and triggers the release of histamine and other chemicals. It’s the release of these chemicals that results in the wide range of allergic reactions we see in patients. Most allergy symptoms such as a runny nose, itchy eyes, and a scratchy throat, fall into the annoying-but-mild category. But what happens when your allergies turn from merely bothersome to medically serious?

It’s important to know when an emergency room trip is needed for an allergic reaction. Here are a few emergency-grade allergy symptoms you should be familiar with.

• Anaphylaxis is among the most serious allergic reactions. While rare with seasonal allergies, it is possible that this life-threatening condition can occur, especially when there is exposure to multiple allergens.

  Signs of anaphylaxis include constricted airways, dizziness, nausea, skin reactions, and/or irregular breathing. If you believe that you or someone else is experiencing anaphylaxis, come to the El Mirage Emergency Room right away.

• If your allergy symptoms progress dramatically or you develop complications such as a sinus infection or ear infection, or if your allergic reaction causes a severe asthma attack, you may need to seek emergency care in El Mirage. Be sure to let our medical team know the timing and severity of each of your symptoms.

• Bites or stings may not be an ‘official’ seasonal allergy, but they are seasonally appropriate to mention. If you believe you’ve been bitten or stung by an insect, spider, or other creature, you’ll want to watch for these dangerous symptoms: difficulty breathing, swelling of the throat or tongue, hives that appear and spread rapidly, or any severe symptom that doesn’t improve with at-home treatment.

A note about EpiPens:

If you know you have severe allergies, or have experienced anaphylaxis in the past, you should always keep EpiPens on hand. Please make sure that those around you know where they are and how to use them – we included a quick user guide at the end of this article you can share with friends and family. 

Also, consider this your official reminder to check your EpiPens’ expiration dates and replace as needed. When you use an expired EpiPen, you could be trying to treat a life-threatening episode with epinephrine that is degraded or less potent. 

While we hope that you never experience a severe allergic reaction, our team is ready to help if needed. At the El Mirage Emergency Room, our team of top-rated doctors in El Mirage are trained to treat anaphylaxis and other urgent allergy symptoms. We’re proud to serve as a source of comfort to you and your family, knowing that you have access to quality emergency care right here in El Mirage.