Allergic reaction treatment in Bang Tao
Hives spreading across the chest after a seafood dinner, lips that are starting to feel thick, or an itchy rash after a new sunscreen. Most allergic reactions here are unpleasant and self-limiting. A small number progress to anaphylaxis, which is life-threatening within minutes. Allergic reaction treatment in Bang Tao covers both, and the difference between them is worth knowing before you need it rather than during.
When it is an emergency
Call 1669 immediately, and use an adrenaline auto-injector if you have one, for any of these:
- Difficulty breathing, wheezing or a tight throat
- Swelling of the tongue, lips or throat
- Difficulty swallowing, or a hoarse voice
- Feeling faint, collapsing, or going pale and clammy
- A rapidly spreading rash together with any of the above
- A sense of impending doom, which patients describe with striking consistency
Anaphylaxis kills through airway swelling and a collapse in blood pressure. Adrenaline is the treatment; antihistamines are not. Do not reach for tablets and wait to see. If you have an auto-injector, use it into the outer thigh and call for help — nobody has ever been harmed by using one unnecessarily.
Common triggers in Phuket
Seafood is the leading one, and shellfish allergy frequently appears for the first time in adulthood, in someone who has eaten it before without trouble.
Peanuts and tree nuts are widely used in Thai cooking, often in sauces where they are not visible, and cross-contamination in busy kitchens is common rather than rare.
Other regular causes are insect stings, new medication including antibiotics started for a holiday illness, latex, sunscreens and cosmetics, and the strong topical anaesthetic sprays sold for sunburn and bites.
Eating with a food allergy in Thailand
Say it in Thai, written down. A card stating your allergy in Thai script is far more reliable than explaining in English to a busy kitchen, and most hotels will write one for you on request.
Fish sauce is in a great many Thai dishes, including several that appear vegetarian. Peanuts appear in sauces, curries and garnishes. Shrimp paste is a base ingredient in most curry pastes. Oyster sauce is in a large proportion of stir-fries.
If your allergy is severe, carry two adrenaline auto-injectors, keep them physically with you rather than in the room safe, and check the expiry date before you travel. Heat degrades adrenaline, so do not leave them in direct sun or in a parked car.
Treating a mild to moderate reaction
Hives and itching without any breathing or swallowing difficulty are treated with antihistamines, sometimes with a short course of steroids for a more extensive rash. Cool compresses help, and the trigger should be avoided completely until it is identified.
Reactions can be biphasic — settling and then returning some hours later without further exposure. Anyone who has had a significant reaction is observed for a period rather than sent straight back to the hotel, and given clear instructions about what to do if symptoms return overnight. See also skin rash treatment.
After a serious reaction
If you have had anaphylaxis, you need an adrenaline auto-injector for the remainder of the trip and referral for allergy testing when you get home.
Do not assume the next reaction will be as mild as the last. Severity varies unpredictably between episodes, and a previous mild reaction does not predict a mild one next time.
We can supply antihistamines and steroids, and provide a written report for your own doctor. Availability of auto-injectors in Thailand is limited and cannot be guaranteed, which is a strong argument for bringing your own if you have a known allergy.
Working out what caused it
Identifying the trigger is often harder than treating the reaction, and getting it wrong means either needless restriction or a repeat episode.
Write down everything eaten, applied to skin, or taken as medication in the six hours beforehand, along with the timing of the first symptom. Photograph the rash. Keep the packaging of any food or product involved. That information is far more valuable than memory a fortnight later, and it is what allergy testing at home will be based on.
Be cautious about self-diagnosing a food allergy from a single episode. Reactions are commonly blamed on the most memorable food when the actual cause was a medication started that day, a new sunscreen, or an insect sting nobody noticed. Formal testing at home settles it — and in the meantime, avoiding the suspected trigger is sensible, but avoiding twelve foods on a guess is not. If a reaction followed a vaccination or a new antibiotic, that specifically needs recording, because it changes what is safe to give you in future.
Frequently asked questions
How much does treatment cost?
A consultation with antihistamines is inexpensive. Injections, steroids and a period of observation cost more, and emergency treatment is charged by what is actually used.
Can I buy an adrenaline auto-injector here?
Availability is limited and inconsistent in Thailand. If you have a known severe allergy, bring two from home and keep them with you.
Can a doctor come to my hotel?
Yes for mild and moderate reactions on a doctor hotel visit. For any breathing difficulty or throat swelling, call 1669 — do not wait for a doctor to travel to you.
How long do hives last?
Individual welts usually fade within 24 hours, though new ones can keep appearing for several days. Antihistamines taken regularly rather than occasionally work best.
Is it safe to fly after a reaction?
After a mild reaction, usually yes. After anaphylaxis, be assessed first and carry auto-injectors in hand luggage with a letter explaining why.
I used my auto-injector and feel fine now. Do I still need to be seen?
Yes, urgently. Adrenaline wears off within about twenty minutes and symptoms can return. Anyone who has used an auto-injector needs assessment and a period of observation regardless of how well they feel.
Come in, or we come to you
Take Care Medical Clinic Bang Tao is open open 24 hours, 7 days a week on Bandon Road in Cherng Talay, a few minutes from Bang Tao Beach and Laguna Phuket. Walk in without an appointment, call +66 81 718 9080, or message us on WhatsApp. If you would rather not move, ask for a doctor hotel visit and we will come to your room.