My friend had an anaphylactic reaction to something she ate recently. What is anaphylaxis and how is it caused?
Anaphylaxis is a serious allergic reaction that usually develops very quickly. Without prompt treatment anaphylaxis can be fatal.
Anaphylaxis is triggered when the immune system overreacts to a usually harmless substance (an allergen such as food or medication) causing mild to severe symptoms that affect various parts of the body.
Symptoms usually appear within a few minutes to several hours after eating a particular food, swallowing medication or being stung by an insect.
Anaphylaxis requires immediate medical treatment, including an injection of epinephrine and a trip to a hospital emergency room. Sometimes symptoms go away, then return a few hours later, so it is important to seek treatment as soon as the anaphylactic reaction begins and to remain under medical observation for as long as the reaction and symptoms continue.
There are many symptoms of anaphylaxis including shortness of breath, chest pain, tight throat, dizziness, low heart rate and blood pressure, fainting, itchy skin, vomiting, diarrhea, and cramps.
The most dangerous symptoms are low blood pressure, breathing difficulty and loss of consciousness, all of which can be fatal. If you have any of these symptoms, particularly after eating, taking medication or being stung by an insect, seek medical care immediately. Don’t wait to see if symptoms go away or get better on their own.
People who are aware of their allergies - often as a result of having suffered an anaphylactic reaction before – should carry an autoinjectible epinephrine (often referred to as an EpiPen) with them at all times. This can be used immediately to inject epinephrine (adrenaline) into the body to reduce the symptoms of anaphylaxis.
Contributed by Hamad Medical Corporation
