Anaphylaxis

 

Anaphylaxis is like a serious and life threatening allergic reaction. Mostly, these types of Anaphylactic reactions are to foods, insect stings, medications and latex. 

If you are allergic to any of the substances, your immune system will overreact to this allergen by producing chemicals which causes allergy symptoms. Normally, these overreacting symptoms occur in one location of the body. But some people are experiencing much more serious symptoms for Anaphylactic reaction. However, this type of serious symptoms affects other body parts at the same time.

Most importantly, Anaphylaxis requires immediate medical treatment, including an injection epinephrine and a glucose trip at a hospital emergency room.

Anaphylactic reaction needs immediate medical treatment, it includes an injection of epinephrine and a trip to a hospital emergency room. If it's not treated properly at the right time, it will lead to death.

Certain people are experiencing more risk of anaphylaxis. If you have any history of allergies or asthma or family history of anaphylaxis, your risk is higher. And if you have past experience of anaphylaxis reaction then you have higher risk of having another Anaphylactic reaction.

It is more essential for accurate diagnosis and successful management of allergies.

An specialist called allergist/immunologist often referred to as an allergist has specialized training and experiences to diagnose the problems and they will help you to develop a plan to protect you in the future.

Symptoms

The early and foremost signs of anaphylactic directions look like basic allergy symptoms: a runny nose or skin rashes. But within the time limit of 30 minutes, more serious signs appear.

Usually more than one of these symptoms appear:

• Feel like Coughing, wheezing; and pain, itching, or tightness in your chest
• Feel like Fainting, dizziness, confusion, or weakness
• Having Hives; a rash; and itchy, swollen, or red skin
• Having Runny or stuffy nose and sneezing
• Having Shortness of breath or trouble breathing and rapid heartbeat
• Having Swollen or itchy lips or tongue
• Having Swollen or itchy throat, hoarse voice, trouble swallowing, tightness in your throat
• Feel like Vomiting, diarrhea, or cramps
• Look like Weak pulse, paleness

Certain people experience a sudden black out right before the attack. Most of them experience symptoms like shock and loss of consciousness.

Typically, 1 out every 5 people will have a second anaphylactic reaction within 12 hours of the first attack.

Causes

Anaphylaxis happens when you have an antibody that usually fights against infection that overreacts to something like foods. It will not happen for the first time you encounter any trigger, but it can develop over a period of time.

The common cause for children is food. The main cause for adults is medication.

For children's, food triggers are

• Peanuts
• Shellfish
• Fish
• Milk
• Eggs
• Soy
• Wheat

For Adults, food triggers are:

• Shellfish
• Tree nuts (dry nuts like walnuts, hazel nuts, cashews, pistachios, pine nuts, and almonds)
• Peanuts

Certain people are also sensitive to the smell of the food, which will trigger a reaction. Certain people are also allergic to preservatives in food.

Common medication triggers are:

• Penicillin (rather than a pill or more often following a shot)
• Anaesthesia for muscle relaxants
• nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like Aspirin, ibuprofen, and other NSAIDs
• Medications like Anti-seizure

Triggered by a few other things:

• Like Pollen, such as ragweed, grass, and tree pollen
• Insect Stings or bites from bees, wasps, yellow jackets, hornets, and fire ants
• You can see Latex, which is usually found in hospital gloves, balloons, and rubber bands

Some people can experience anaphylactic reaction if they breathe in latex.

People can experience a reaction to a combination of things:

• Inhale of birch pollen and eat apple, raw potato, carrots, celery, or hazelnut
• Inhale of mugwort pollen and eat celery, apples, peanuts, or kiwi
• Inhale a ragweed pollen or else eat any melons or bananas
• Contacting latex by touching them and eat papaya, chestnuts, or kiwi

In rare cases, it can be triggered by 2 to 4 hours after eating certain foods.

Anaphylactic reactions usually start within minutes of contact with the trigger, but they also come after one hour or more later.

Some people never identify their cause of reactions. That is called idiopathic anaphylaxis.

If you don’t know about your triggers, you won’t avoid them. So it’s important to carry epinephrine injectors. You should make sure that your close one knows how to use them and wear medical alert jewellery.

Preventing

If you have severe allergies, make sure that you carry epinephrine injection wherever you go.

Take few steps to avoid your triggers:

Food: You must read food labels carefully. Ask restaurants how they prepare them and ingredients in their dishes.

Medications: If you’ve had allergic reactions in the past, you must tell all healthcare providers if you’re allergic to any medications. They prescribe a safe alternative for you and they avoid anything you are allergic to.

Insect stings: You don't walk barefoot in the grass. And also don't drink from open cans because insects can lurk around the opening. Try to avoid wearing bright, flowery clothing or perfumes, hairsprays and lotions that attract the insects.

When to see a doctor

Seek medical help if you or your child needs a severe allergic reaction. Don’t waste your time if the symptoms go away. If you experience an attack and you have an auto injector, use it right away.

If the symptoms improve after the injection, you will need to go to the emergency room to make sure symptoms recur.

if you or your child have a signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis in the past or has had a severe allergy attack, make an appointment to see your provider

The diagnosis and management of anaphylaxis are more complicated, so you will need to see an expert who specialises in allergies and immunology.