Discovering your child requires an EpiPen is daunting. The realization that you may not be able to afford it is even more frightening.
I sat in the doctor’s office, watching as my young son, Max, squirmed on the examination table. After what felt like an eternity, the nurse revealed that he had tested positive for an egg allergy, with his skin reacting in hives.
“He’ll need an EpiPen,” she stated.
What? I exchanged worried glances with my partner, Sarah. “Is an EpiPen really necessary?” I asked, trying to wrap my head around the situation. “He just vomited from some eggs. Can’t we just avoid them and use allergy meds?”
The doctor, clad in her white coat, entered to explain that because both his skin and digestive systems were affected, the protocol required the use of an EpiPen. My wife nodded in agreement, and I reluctantly accepted the decision, though it still felt excessive. An EpiPen seemed extreme for a child who only had a mild reaction to eggs.
I had previously mocked relatives with allergies, treating them as if they were merely seeking attention. I realized the gravity of the situation as I researched children’s allergies, determined to prove the doctor wrong. However, I soon learned that anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction, can escalate quickly—potentially leading to breathing difficulties or low blood pressure. Triggers can be as innocuous as an insect sting or a food item like eggs.
Finding out that Max needed an EpiPen was unsettling. But the true shock came when we learned about the cost. The doctor warned us to prepare for prices exceeding $500. I couldn’t believe my ears. After some digging, I discovered that the cost of EpiPens has skyrocketed over 400% since 2008.
How could something that contains epinephrine, a drug well-established and included on the World Health Organization’s list of essential medications for children, be so prohibitively expensive? It’s baffling. The device is simply a needle attached to a plastic injector filled with a decades-old medication.
It’s difficult not to feel anger towards the pharmaceutical companies behind the EpiPen. While it’s acceptable to pay a premium for consumer goods, it’s unfathomable to overcharge for life-saving medicine. Children shouldn’t suffer financially for their health needs. Really? A 400% increase?
Fortunately, Sarah and I have decent health insurance, which helped mitigate the costs. Now, we’re adapting to having an EpiPen on hand. We’ve informed the daycare about Max’s allergy, and we keep one in his diaper bag. We’ve even gotten a tester pen so he can familiarize himself with it.
Soon, we’ll be conducting a food test to see if he can tolerate cooked eggs. The doctor has encouraged us to start introducing potential allergens to help him outgrow his allergies. I’m keeping my fingers crossed. I don’t want him to miss out on something as simple as omelets—or risk having a serious allergy.
Conclusion
In summary, navigating a child’s food allergy is both frightening and financially burdensome. From the shock of needing an EpiPen to the staggering costs associated with it, parents face a daunting reality. Ensuring access to necessary medications should not come with a hefty price tag.
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