panic attacks

My 8 year old nephew is suffering with panic attacks which are making him paranoid. It first started out when he got very hot after playing and had a kinda rash and his face swelled up. he went to a&e and saw a doctor who didnt know what was wrong. He got referred to a specialist for tests and nephew was convinced he was going to die. Nothing we say will change this view. now it seems that when he begins to panic he starts getting hot and then we get a repeat. he has stopped going out and playing with friends and wont join in any school activities. its driving his parents mad but nothing they say helps.  he burnt his hand the other day and thought he was going to die and was screaming his head off. hes become irrational and really difficult to deal with. any ideas??

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

If it were not for the rash and swelling, I would recommend only that he be evaluated by a pediatric mental health professional, such as a child psychiatrist. But the rash and swelling are not at all typical of panic attacks and this should be investigated further. Be that as it may, the mental health evaluation is prudent.