meercat123 asked
My granddaughter had allergic reaction after handling a friends pet bunny last night. Her eyelid is almost swollen shut. We gave her a Benadryl, but it is still swollen today, although not as bad. Should we keep giving her Benadryl, or is there something else we should be doing (besides cool compress)?
Answer
Depending on the type of allergic reaction that is occurring from contact with the rabbit, Benadryl (diphenhydramine) may not be very helpful in reducing the swelling that is occurring. Moderate to severe skin reactions from animal contact are generally diagnosed as allergic contact dermatitis. Allergic contact dermatitis is mediated by T cells and antihistamines, like Benadryl, are not likely to significantly reduce swelling or any rash that appears.
Nevertheless, Benadryl may be effective to help reduce itching and can also help to sleep at night due to the sedating properties of the drug. Benadryl can be dosed every 4 to 6 hours.
Typically, topical steroids are recommended for moderate cases of allergic contact dermatitis. However, since the eye is affected in this case and topical products need to be used cautiously, it is recommended to reach out to your doctor for appropriate evaluation and treatment options. They may prescribe an oral steroid to reduce the swelling and inflammation. In most cases though, the swelling should simply subside over time.
