Over more than a decade working in allergy and immunology departments, I have seen countless patients—especially children—rushed to the emergency room in anaphylactic shock due to seemingly harmless causes: a fire ant sting, a meal containing peanuts, or a common cold medicine.
What worries me is not just the severity of anaphylaxis—which can lead to death within 15 minutes—but the widespread lack of knowledge about this condition in our communities, even in large cities like Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru, and Penang.
Anaphylaxis is a serious allergic reaction that occurs quickly and affects multiple organ systems at once: skin, respiratory, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal.
Common symptoms include:
- Widespread hives or skin rash
- Difficulty breathing, wheezing
- Swelling of the lips, tongue, or eyelids
- Vomiting, severe abdominal pain
- Dizziness, low blood pressure, fainting
Common causes:
- Food: peanuts, seafood, eggs, dairy
- Insects: fire ants, bees
- Medications: antibiotics (penicillin), NSAIDs
- Exercise after meals
- Unknown allergens
Nine-year-old Azim from Selangor was brought into the emergency room with severe breathing difficulty, facial and hand swelling after eating soup that contained shrimp stock. His mother said Azim had previously developed mild rashes from eating seafood, but “it was just a skin allergy, nothing serious.”
I had to administer adrenaline immediately and monitor him in the ICU for 24 hours. This was a case of severe anaphylaxis, and just a few minutes of delay could have cost his life.
In many developed countries, children with a history of severe allergies are prescribed adrenaline auto-injectors (e.g., EpiPen) to carry with them at all times.
In Malaysia, however, these life-saving devices are not yet widely used, due to cost, lack of awareness, or inadequate medical guidance.
As a result, thousands of families remain unprepared when emergencies strike.
To reduce the risk of fatal anaphylaxis, we must:
- Raise public awareness about warning signs and emergency symptoms
- Train families to use EpiPens or adrenaline correctly—even at home
- Create personalized allergy emergency plans for at-risk individuals
- Increase access to allergy testing and screening, especially for children with early signs
Listen to Your Body—Don’t Underestimate Allergic Reactions
Anaphylaxis spares no one—it can happen at home, at school, while out with friends, or even on a flight.
Don’t let ignorance or complacency cost a life.
If you or a loved one has a history of allergies, speak to a qualified allergist and prepare your emergency toolkit.
Knowledge and readiness are your strongest protection against anaphylaxis.
I provide online consultations for:
- Parents of children with food or insect allergies
- Patients with past anaphylaxis episodes who lack emergency medication or training
- Schools or childcare centers needing anaphylaxis first aid training
📩 Book appointments via online form
📞 Or contact via WhatsApp for guidance