


A TikTok influencer is sparking concern for not using her EpiPen while experiencing a “life-threatening allergic reaction” — instead, she continued to film.
Shivaika Sewlal, 22, has gained hundreds of thousands of social media followers by posting videos sharing how she lives with over 40 allergies, eczema, and asthma.
She recently went viral with a pair of clips documenting a severe allergic reaction from an unusual source.
In a TikTok that has amassed 22.9 million views since it was posted late last month, the young woman from Cape Town, South Africa had significant bruising on her face and her eyes were swollen.
“Me not realizing that I’m having a life-threatening allergic reaction…” Sewlal wrote over the video.
She claimed that she felt “completely fine,” although she acknowledged that she did not look “fine” — and she could not see properly.
Sewlal said she wasn’t initially sure she should head to the hospital, but eventually decided to go as the reaction became more “annoying.”
Her face swelled so much that her apartment’s facial recognition technology was unable to identify her.
In the hospital, she explained to the doctor that she was confused because she had not eaten anything she was allergic to and didn’t take her EpiPen because she wasn’t certain she needed to.
The doctor clarified she should have.
Sewlal seemed unbothered by the whole ordeal as she received shots of adrenaline in her thigh and arm and an IV drip while continuing to record.
“A doctor walked in on me doing a TikTok. Feeling so embarrassed,” she whispered at one point.
She eventually understood the gravity of the situation as the medical staff continued to check on her.
“What’s scary is that I was literally going to take an allergy tablet and then sleep,” she lamented. “I thought I was being overdramatic, but, like, everyone is quite stressed here.”
In a follow-up TikTok, posted the same day, Sewlal shared what caused the incident.
“Well, I just learned that if I touch something that touched peanuts it could kill me,” she explained.
“I was so confused because I didn’t touch an actual peanut — I touched something that still had peanut bits on it, and I rubbed my eyes after touching it. That’s when I started swelling up.”
Sewlal summed up for her viewers: “When in doubt just go to the hospital.”
The Post reached out to her for comment.
Fans expressed concern in the comments section of her videos.
“Baby this is a ‘let me use my epipen’ situation,” one cried.
“The fact that you questioned going to the hospital, and it’s CLEAR that you should. It’s just wild!!” exclaimed another.
“I know that doctor was flabbergasted,” declared a third.