Anaphylaxis Allergic

Anaphylaxis is the most severe form of allergic reaction which happens very suddenly and can be fatal for the individuals who experience it if emergency medical treatment is not performed in time. The most common cause of this type of reaction are parenteral antibiotics most commonly penicillin, IV contrast materials such as iodine, insect stings, and some foods such as peanuts.

The first time someone has a reaction to an allergen it may be a mild reaction however, the individual can have a more severe reaction such as Anaphylaxis even with a very small amount of exposure to the same allergen a subsequent time.

The symptoms of Anaphylaxis develop immediately within seconds or a few minutes after exposure to the allergen and can include a skin rash or hives, difficulty in breathing, severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, weakness, heart palpitations, and slurred speech.  Immediate action must be taken such as calling 911 so that emergency medical treatment can be given as soon as possible.

If you are with an individual who begins experiencing any of these symptoms, you should be sure to check for any sort of emergency medicines that they may have on their person as many people with known allergies carry something which can help them in an emergency situation such as an Epi-Pen which has a set dose of Epinephrine which can be injected to help avoid anaphylactic shock while waiting for paramedics to arrive.

While Anaphylaxis is relatively rare, it is extremely life threatening and can happen very suddenly in people who have known allergies individuals with known allergies should always be prepared and have emergency items available with them at all times which include antihistamines, and epinephrine which is injectable. They should also have some form of necklace or ID bracelet on their person which states any known allergies.