Anaphylaxis is a serious allergic reaction that can be life threatening and requires immediate treatment. A medication called epinephrine can treat the symptoms and help prevent severe complications.
For some people with severe allergies, exposure to an allergen can result in a life threatening reaction called anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis can occur in response to venom, food, or medication. Most cases are caused by a bee sting or by eating food allergens such as peanuts or tree nuts.
Anaphylaxis can cause symptoms such as a rash, a weak pulse, and shock, which is known as anaphylactic shock. It can be fatal if it isn’t treated immediately.
If you have allergies that could lead to anaphylaxis, a healthcare professional will likely recommend that you carry epinephrine with you at all times. This medication can stop an allergic reaction from becoming life threatening.
Symptoms usually begin within minutes after you come into contact with the allergen. They can include:
- abdominal pain
- anxiety
- confusion
- coughing
- rash
- slurred speech
- facial swelling
- trouble breathing
- weak pulse
- wheezing
- difficulty swallowing
- itchy skin
- swelling in your mouth and throat
- nausea
- shock
Your body is in constant contact with foreign substances, and it produces antibodies to defend itself from these substances. In most cases, your body does not react to those antibodies. But in the case of anaphylaxis, your immune system overreacts in a way that causes a full-body allergic reaction.
A healthcare professional will most likely diagnose anaphylaxis if you’re experiencing the following symptoms:
- mental confusion
- throat swelling
- weakness or dizziness
- blue skin
- rapid or abnormal heart rate
- facial swelling
- hives
- low blood pressure
- wheezing
In the emergency room, a healthcare professional will use a stethoscope to listen for crackling sounds when you breathe. Crackling sounds could indicate fluid in your lungs.
After treating your symptoms, a healthcare professional will ask questions to determine whether you’ve had allergic reactions before.
If you or someone near you begins to develop symptoms of anaphylaxis, call 911 or go to the emergency room immediately.
If you’ve previously experienced anaphylaxis and you have epinephrine on hand, use the medication at the start of symptoms and then call 911.
If you’re helping someone who is experiencing an anaphylactic reaction, reassure them that help is on the way. Help them lie down on their back with their feet elevated, and cover them with a blanket.
If the person has been stung by an insect, use a plastic card, such as a credit card, to apply pressure to the skin 1 inch below the stinger. Slowly slide the card toward the stinger. Once the card is under the stinger, flick the card upward to release the stinger from the skin. Do not use tweezers — squeezing the stinger will inject more venom.
If the person has emergency allergy medication available, administer it to them. But do not try to give the person an oral medication if they’re having trouble breathing.
If the person has stopped breathing or if their heart has stopped beating, perform CPR until emergency medical help arrives.
At the hospital, people who are experiencing anaphylaxis receive epinephrine medication to minimize the reaction. If you’ve already injected this medication yourself or if someone else has injected it for you, tell the healthcare professionals when you arrive at the hospital.
You might also receive oxygen, cortisone, an antihistamine, or a fast-acting beta-agonist inhaler.
Some people may go into anaphylactic shock during an anaphylactic reaction. It’s also possible to stop breathing or to experience airway blockage due to the inflammation of your airways. Sometimes, anaphylaxis can cause a heart attack. All these complications are potentially fatal.
You can help prevent anaphylaxis by avoiding any allergens that could trigger a reaction. If you’re at risk of experiencing anaphylaxis, your doctor will suggest that you carry epinephrine medication at all times to treat any reactions that occur.
The injectable version of this medication usually comes in an auto-injector, which is a small device that contains a syringe filled with a single dose of the medication. As soon as you start to have symptoms of anaphylaxis, press the auto-injector against your thigh to inject it.
It’s important that you regularly check the expiration dates and replace any auto-injectors that are due to expire.
Anaphylaxis is a type of severe allergic reaction that requires immediate treatment to avoid potentially life threatening complications. If you have severe allergies, your doctor will likely recommend that you keep epinephrine medication with you in case of a reaction.
If you or someone else is experiencing an anaphylactic reaction, it’s important to call 911 or go to the hospital immediately. Even if you’ve already used epinephrine to treat the reaction, you might need further treatment.