Medically Verified By: Dr. Sachin Shelke
An anaphylactic attack or anaphylaxis is a severe type of allergic reaction. In the process of fighting a foreign agent, the body produces a large number of chemicals that cause harm to the body itself. About one fourth of the anaphylactic attacks seen do not have any specific cause.
An anaphylactic attack or anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction. In fighting a foreign agent, the body produces several chemicals that harm the body itself. About 25% of anaphylactic attacks do not have any specific cause. Common trigger factors are certain medicines (e.g. penicillin), an insect bite (e.g. bee sting), certain foods (e.g. peanuts) or specific products (e.g. Latex rubber). A tick bite is known to aggravate red meat allergy and delay anaphylaxis. For people allergic to latex, condoms (primarily when used during oral sex) could even lead to anaphylaxis. It is a rare condition, the lifetime risk being ~0.05%–1%, i.e. ~1 in 2000 people/year. Most people might not experience it in their lifetime at all. However, its incidence is increasing, particularly for food substances.
The signs may vary from severe to mild ones; the person may have the following:
This section has two subsections:
Causes
The common culprits are listed below:
When assessing an affected patient, the risk factors for anaphylaxis are significant. Some of them are listed below:
Notably, after recovery, the person must take care not to get re-exposed to the causative allergen. As a precaution, a patient with a severe allergy should carry an identity card or bracelet which mentions their allergy and susceptibility to anaphylaxis. In addition, exercise, menses, NSAIDs, alcohol use or concomitant viral illness increases the possibility of anaphylaxis. In an emergency, a known anaphylaxis patient should carry anti-allergic medicine (anti-histaminic) and adrenaline injection for self-administration.
Clinical history, a vital factor contributing to the hey diagnosis of anaphylaxis, must be followed by diagnostic tests. The clinical record must show symptoms such as angioedema, gastrointestinal symptoms, pruritis, syncope, flushing, urticaria and hypotension. Risk agents such as specific food medications or insect stings should be identified. The patient’s prior activities, such as sexual activity and exercise, should be noted. Diagnostic tests, which can detect if the patient has IgE antibodies to certain foods, stinging insects or medications, are confirmatory tests, including in vitro IgE or skin tests. The levels of basophil mediators such as plasma total tryptase or plasma histamine and mast cells are high for anaphylaxis diagnosis.
Diagnostic criteria for anaphylaxis (1 of the following with the onset of minutes to hours)
The affected person should be removed from the environment or removed from the substance responsible for anaphylaxis. If the person has had a previous anaphylaxis episode and has an epinephrine (adrenaline) injection, they can be given in the muscle mid-thigh area. Emergency medical care should be provided if one does not have access to this medication.
Until emergency medical aid arrives, the patient should be made to lie down with their legs elevated (raised above the level of their chest). Calm them down as this will help reduce their breath rate and help them cope with the situation better. If the patient is asthmatic and has an inhaler, it can be used to minimise their breathlessness.
Lastly, if the person does not have a pulse or stops breathing, perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) until help arrives.
The patient’s medical management should include-
The morbidity and mortality risk is low with prompt and appropriate care and monitoring. Patient prognosis depends on timely access to medical treatment and recognition of the disease process. Note that 50% of all associated deaths occur in the first hour of symptom exposure.
An anaphylactic attack is a medical emergency; hence, the patient must immediately visit a doctor because a severe reaction can lead to death. The doctor will then be able to directly administer an adrenaline injection and give the patient anti-allergic medications (antihistaminics/steroids), nebulisation, oxygen or intravenous fluids (if required).
During critical moments of an allergic emergency, as our understanding of allergies and anaphylaxis evolves, so do our methods for managing them.
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During critical moments of an allergic emergency, as our understanding of allergies and anaphylaxis evolves, so do our methods for managing them.
What if a simple jog in the morning could kill you? Exercise-induced anaphylaxis is a real thing!
Did you know that few food allergies not only lead to adverse reactions but also may be life-threatening.
Anaphylactic attack or anaphylaxis is a severe type of allergic reaction. Dr Dhiraj Bhattad tells us how to manage it.
Insect bites can be painful and if they happen on a trip- it can take away the fun of adventure. Here are some first aid options for insect bites.
What are the treatment options for allergic rhinitis?
Diagnosis and treatment of allergic rhinitis
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Tick bite aggravates red meat allergy
Allergy disorders on the rise in India
Beware - keeping your homes too clean could give your kids peanut allergy!
Tap water chemicals can give you food allergies
