Health Information

Treatment

Some early cases of anaphylaxis can be treated with antihistamines and corticosteroids. The most severe cases involving emergencies that endanger life and require immediate medical attention. Epinephrine should be administered at the first sign of a serious reaction to slow the progression of symptoms.

Physicians should treat anaphylaxis with epinephrine and intravenous fluids. It is also likely that the person needs treatment with oxygen, mechanical ventilation (a breathing machine that helps the patient temporarily) and antihistamines or corticosteroids intravenously. (more…)

Duration

If done early and appropriate treatment, cases of anaphylaxis can improve quickly in a few hours. If a person has already developed more serious symptoms and the most hazardous conditions, it is likely that a few days after treatment a complete recovery. If untreated, anaphylaxis can cause death within minutes or hours.

Prevention

This disease can be prevented by avoiding the allergens that cause symptoms. For example, people who are allergic to foods should always check the ingredients list on labels and ask the waiter about these before eating in a restaurant. If you are allergic to bee stings, you should limit gardening and mowing, and should not use perfumes, hair spray or shiny clothes to attract insects. (more…)

Symptoms

Usually, the symptoms of anaphylaxis occur within seconds or minutes of allergen exposure and vary from mild to severe. These symptoms include:

* Rapid pulse, sweating, dizziness, fainting, unconsciousness
* Wheezing or chest tightness, shortness of breath, cough
* Hives accompanied by itching, which can be combined to form larger areas of skin swelling
* Swelling of lips, tongue or eyes (more…)

Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction, which can put lives at risk, which occurs within minutes of exposure to an allergy-causing substance (allergen). Also called anaphylactic shock.

Faced with a severe allergic reaction, the body’s immune system responds to the presence of an allergen by releasing histamine and other chemicals in the body. These chemicals cause the symptoms of allergies, which are usually mild, such as runny nose in the case of hay fever (allergic rhinitis) or skin rash caused by poison ivy. (more…)