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Overview Of Anaphylaxis
- Anaphylaxis is a serious, sometimes lethal, allergic response that happens within minutes to several hours of coming into contact with an allergy-causing substance (known as an allergen).
- Anaphylaxis is also referred to as anaphylactic shock.
- With an allergic response, the body’s immune system reacts to the existence of an allergen by discharging histamine and other chemicals within the body.
- The chemicals also cause blood vessels to expand radically, which leads to a quick, severe decrease in blood pressure (causing shock). Anaphylaxis is a dangerous medical emergency.
Though the specific allergen that causes anaphylaxis might be different for each person, it can be found to be one of the following sources:
- Foods— Particularly eggs, grains, milk, seafood, nuts and peanuts.
- Drugs— An antibiotic from the penicillin group.
- Insect stings— From hornets, wasps, bees or fire ants.
- Engineering chemicals— Latex and rubber merchandises used by health care employees.
Symptoms Of Anaphylaxis
Symptoms of anaphylaxis generally take place within a few minutes of being exposed to the allergen, but symptoms can be deferred for several hours. For some individuals, symptoms do not always appear after an exposure, but are activated if an exposure is followed by exercising. These symptoms can consist of:
- Fast pulse, perspiring, unsteadiness, fainting, unconsciousness.
- Out of breath, chest tension, trouble breathing, coughing.
- Itchy hives, which might form larger areas of skin inflammation.
- Inflammation of the tongue, lips or eyes.
- Queasiness, vomiting, stomach pains, diarrhea.
- Throat inflammation, a bump in the throat, huskiness or an obstructed air flow.
Prevention
- You can avoid anaphylaxis by staying away from the allergens that cause your symptoms.
- For instance, individuals with food allergies should always examine the ingredients on the labels.
Related Video On Anaphylaxis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=184oft9bW0s