Anaphylactic Shock

All allergy symptoms are unpleasant; for example, allergy symptoms from sneezing to watery eyes can make you very uncomfortable. However, one particular type of allergic reaction, anaphylactic shock, can be deadly if not taken care of right away.

What is anaphylactic shock?

Anaphylaxis happens when someone is allergic to a substance, but their reaction is extreme and sometimes life-threatening. It can happen with exposure to any allergic substance. Most often, this type of reaction occurs with bee stings, mosquito bites or certain food allergies, such as nuts. If it is severe enough, this becomes anaphylactic shock. It can be life threatening and even deadly, if you don’t get treated right away.

Symptoms

The symptoms include the following:

• Low blood pressure
• Trouble breathing
• Itching
• Swelling of the face, mouth, neck and throat

If the swelling is severe enough, the airway can become completely constricted and result in complete lack of oxygen. The person suffering the allergy can also go into to shock.

Treatment

If you or someone you’re with begins to experience anaphylaxis, you need to get to a doctor right away; if necessary, call an ambulance, because paramedics will have medications needed to immediately treat these types of symptoms. If you know you are prone to anaphylaxis, you should already be carrying medications with you in the event you have reactions. For relatively mild reactions, such as hives or minor itching, carry medications such as antihistamines with you to prevent a reaction from progressing as soon as you see the first symptoms. If you’ve had a severe reaction before, your doctor has probably given you medication in the form of a shot containing epinephrine. Injecting yourself with epinephrine or getting someone to do it for you in the event of a severe reaction will save your life. If this happens, though, you still need to go to the emergency room right away and get further treatment, so that you’re sure to be safe.

Epinephrine helps open up airways and provides immediate relief to histamine reactions. The injections do have a shelf life, so if you’ve had yours for a while, check to make sure it’s still good; if it’s not, replace it. It’s always good to make sure you have the right potency with you in case you have a severe reaction.

If you are with someone and they have what you suspect is an anaphylactic reaction, call an ambulance right away. If possible, give them an over-the-counter antihistamine containing diphenhydramine, which may slow down the reaction enough to buy some time until the ambulance gets there. If possible, break the antihistamine capsule open or have the person chew tablets, as applicable, so that they dissolve more quickly and the medicine works faster.

Conclusion

Remember that anaphylactic shock is very, very dangerous. If you feel symptoms, get to a doctor or the emergency room right away for proper treatment. With some common sense, it is something you can live with as long as you’re aware and seek treatment at the first signs of trouble.

Recommended Anaphylactic Shock treatment sources

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