Anaphylaxis: Life-Threatening Allergic Reaction
Allergic reactions range from a nuisances to life-threatening conditions. Anaphylaxis is the most severe type. It is characterized by the ABC criterion of disturbance to the airway, breathing, and/or circulation. It generally occurs within 30 minutes of exposure to an ingested or injected allergen. Common causes are antibiotics, anesthetic agents, other drugs, nuts, seafood, and insect stings. Inhaled allergens such as pollens may cause severe asthma, but rarely anaphylaxis.
It is difficult to predict who is at risk for anaphylaxis. Different patients with the same immunoglobulin E (IgE) can be exposed to the same allergen, and one may suffer anaphylaxis while another has only a local reaction, and a third no reaction at all. According to the medical literature, there is a public perception that the severity of allergic reactions gets worse with each exposure, but this is not true. Fatal anaphylaxis occurs typically in patients who have had only mild, if any, allergic reactions to the guilty substance. However, patients who survive an episode of anaphylaxis should be evaluated by an allergist or immunologist to minimize the risk of future episodes.
Many different organ systems can be affected by anaphylaxis:
1. Skin: Possible symptoms include itching, weals (urticaria), and swelling
2. Gastrointestinal: Nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, and/or diarrhea
3. Respiratory: Cough, wheeze, bronchospasm, sneezing, runny nose, swelling of the throat and upper airway
4. Mouth: Swelling of the lips and tongue
5. Cardiovascular: Low blood pressure, with possible fainting, and chest pain
6. Other: Anxiety and an “impending sense of doom”.
The symptoms resemble asthma, cardiovascular events such as cardiogenic shock, and panic attacks.
The primary treatment is adrenaline. Some patients are prescribed autoinjectors, but these are not guaranteed to work. The patient may collapse before he/she can use it. One deceased patient was found holding an unused autoinjector. Others may forget to carry the autoinjector when needed, or to get it refilled promptly after use.
We value and respect the experiences of all of our HERWriters, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.
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This year I had an anaphylaxic episode-and this was one of the most scary things that have happened to me. By the time I made it to the hospital my tongue was swollen to where i could not speak and I had fluid beginning on my lungs. I have since went to an allergist and tested for several things-but they have not been able to find what I was allergic to. I feel for anyone allergic to something common-and for anyone that has went through this.
November 3, 2011 - 7:23pmThis Comment