Overview

Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction which may endanger a person’s life. This can occur within seconds or minutes of exposure to an allergen, such as poison resulted from a bee sting or peanut consumption.

Large amount of chemicals released by the immune system during anaphylactic shock can cause shock, blood pressure will drop suddenly, airways will narrow, while breathing will be blocked. Signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis include rapid heartbeat, weak, rash, nausea and vomiting. A person suffering from anaphylaxis requires emergency medical assistance application and injection with epinephrine. If anaphylaxis is not treated immediately, it can lead to unconsciousness or even death.


Contents

1. Overview
2. Triggers
3. Signs and symptoms
4. Cause
5. Emergency measures

Triggers

Among the factors that can trigger the anaphylactic shock are:
- Foods - especially eggs, seafood, nuts, cereals, milk, peanuts;
- Drugs - especially antibiotics found in cephalosporin or penicillin group;
- Insect bites;
- Anesthetic injections - procaine, lidocaine;
- Contrast agents - used in the investigations with role of diagnostic that use X-ray;
- Industrial chemicals - latex and rubber products used by health workers;
- Injections with role in the immunity development.

Signs and symptoms

Anaphylaxis is a severe reaction that affects multiple areas of the body. Severity of the reaction varies from person to person. The reactions following the triggering are usually of the same type. Symptoms rapidly begin and reactions are quite severe. The presence of a history that includes allergic diseases is not increase the risk of developing IgE-mediated anaphylaxis, but it also not prone to non-IgE-mediated reaction. Asthma can cause a more severe reaction and can be more difficult to treat. The risk of developing anaphylaxis may diminish over time if there is repeated exposure or reactions. However, a person with risk factors should always expect the worst and be prepared.

Manifestations of an anaphylactic reaction can occur within seconds of exposure to 15-30 minutes or even an hour or more after exposure (typical reaction to aspirin and similar drugs).

The first symptoms often appear on the skin and may include:
- Flushing;
- Pruritus (in the groin or armpits);
- Urticaria.

Manifestations are often accompanied by:
- Feeling of impending doom;
- Anxiety;
- Fast and irregular pulse;

Following these events, the patient will manifest swelling of the throat, tongue, hoarseness, difficulty swallowing and breathing. In addition to all these can also show symptoms of rhinitis (hay fever) or asthma, causing runny nose, sneezing, wheezing and shortness of breath, stomach cramps and vomiting.

In approximately 25% of cases, mediators that irrigate blood vessels trigger a generalized opening of capillaries, determining manifestations like:
- Low blood pressure;
- Dizziness;
- Loss of consciousness.

These are typical characteristics of anaphylactic shock.

Cause

Causes of anaphylaxis are divided into two major groups:
- IgE mediated - This form is true anaphylaxis, which requires initial exposure, during which occurs the awareness with a subsequent exposure.

This involves the release of mast cells and basophils (blood and tissue cells that secrete substances that cause allergic reactions, known as mediators) by IgE and explosive release of chemical mediators after re-exposure.

- Non-IgE mediated - also called anaphylactoid reactions. These reactions are similar to those of true anaphylaxis, but involve IgE antibodies. These are usually caused by direct stimulation of mast cells and basophils. Same mediators appear indeed in the case of real anaphylaxis and results the same effects and results. This reaction can be random and often occurs initially and after subsequent exposure because is do not require awareness.

Terms of anaphylaxis and anaphylactoid reactions are used to describe the severe allergic reaction. Side effects are the same and generally treated in the same way. Often the two types are indistinguishable initially.

Although it might seem that IgE-mediated anaphylaxis occurs after the first exposure to a food, drug, insect bite, it has happened before and probably unwittingly, was awareness to previous exposure. You may not remember when there was a sting or not be aware of hidden allergens in food.

Emergency measures

If you suspect that a person suffers an anaphylactic reaction, it is important to take the following measures to help. In general, try to apply them in the order they are presented.

- Immediately call emergency service.
- If the patient has an epinephrine injection, inject it immediately. It can be injected into the thigh and can be administered through light fabric. Rub the place to improve drug absorption.
- Try to stretch the person and keep his legs lifted if possible.
- Stay with the patient until help arrives.
- If you are trained, initiated specific first aid measures (techniques of resuscitation) if the person stops breathing or has no pulse.

Injection of epinephrine may be administered through thin clothing such as pants, skirt, stockings. Thick clothing items will be removed before injection. Epinephrine is injected only if the patient has a history of anaphylactic or under the supervision of a healthcare provider. After 10-15 minutes, if symptoms are significant, the patient can receive a new dose of epinephrine. Even if the reaction is diminished, the patient should go to an emergency room immediately.

Other treatments that may be imposed are: administration of oxygen, fluids and medications to relieve breathing and even epinephrine. Antihistamine steroids may be recommended but they are useful in the first phase of anaphylaxis and will not replace epinephrine. However, they may be more useful in preventing recurrent delayed reactions. Do not be surprised if adrenaline will offer a state of uncertainty and accelerating pulse. These side effects are normal and are not dangerous except for those who have serious heart problems.

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