Anaphylaxis is a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction.
Skin rashes, itching or hives. Swelling of the lips, tongue or throat. Shortness of breath, trouble breathing or wheezing (whistling sound during breathing) Dizziness and/or fainting.
Anaphylaxis is the most severe form of an allergic reaction and is life threatening. A reaction can develop within minutes of exposure to the allergen, but with planning and training, a reaction can be treated effectively by using an adrenaline autoinjector (Epinephrine).
In mild reactions, many warning signs mimic what is seen in a condition called hay fever. These symptoms can include: nasal congestion (rhinitis), a scratchy throat, and watery eyes brought on from the symptoms mentioned previously. In more severe cases, an atypical circulatory response may be present.
Most anaphylactic reactions begin within minutes of exposure to an allergen. However, in some cases the reaction can take a half hour or longer. NOTE: Severe reactions can start out with mild symptoms and quickly get worse.
Fatal outcomes due to anaphylaxis are rare,25, 26 and around 80% of reactions resolve without (or despite no treatment with) adrenaline. However, severe reactions cannot be predicted,1 thus all anaphylaxis reactions must be treated as potentially life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms include: Skin reactions, including hives and itching and flushed or pale skin. Low blood pressure (hypotension) Constriction of the airways and a swollen tongue or throat, which can cause wheezing and trouble breathing.
Anaphylactic reactions can vary greatly from person to person, or from one reaction to the next. The symptoms may get worse within only a few minutes. They then often stay at the same level of severity for a while and then go away again on their own.
Most reactions are mild. A severe allergic reaction (i.e. anaphylaxis) involves a person's breathing and/or circulation. Anaphylaxis is the most severe form of an allergic reaction and is life threatening. An important aspect of allergy and anaphylaxis management is prevention by avoiding the cause.
Definition of Anaphylaxis
It can be mild, moderate to severe, or severe. Most cases are mild but any anaphylaxis has the potential to become life-threatening. Anaphylaxis develops rapidly, usually reaching peak severity within 5 to 30 minutes, and may, rarely, last for several days.
Experiencing anaphylaxis can sometimes result in longer-term increased anxiety, or lead to post-traumatic stress. It may cause a feeling of “not knowing what is safe anymore”. This can result in avoidance of food or situations that everyone knows is safe but cause too much anxiety.
Class 5: Very high level of allergy (50.00 KUA/L – 99.9 KUA/L) indicative of very high level sensitization. Class 6: Very high level of allergy (≥ 100.0 KUA/L) indicative of very high level sensitization.
Late-phase reaction
A reaction that typically develops after 2–6 h and peaks 6–9 h after allergen exposure. It is usually preceded by a clinically evident early-phase reaction and fully resolves in 1–2 days. Skin late-phase reactions involve oedema, pain, warmth and erythema (redness).
If you're with someone having symptoms of anaphylaxis, don't wait to see whether symptoms get better. Seek emergency treatment right away. In severe cases, untreated anaphylaxis can lead to death within half an hour. An antihistamine pill, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), isn't enough to treat anaphylaxis.
An allergic reaction can typically last from a few hours to a few weeks. If you have prolonged exposure to your allergen, your allergic reaction will usually last longer. The symptom length of an allergic reaction also depends on the allergen and the severity of your response.
Onset of anaphylaxis to stings or allergen injections is usually rapid: 70% begin in < 20 minutes and 90% in < 40 minutes. Food/ingestant anaphylaxis may have slower onset or slow progression. Rapid onset is associated with greater severity.
Antihistamines DO NOT stop the progression of an anaphylaxis. Antihistamines only help to decrease itching and reduce mild/moderate swelling of the face, lips and eyes. DO NOT SHOWER as this may contribute to a drop in blood pressure which can escalate the severity of an allergic reaction.
Beta-lactam antibiotics, muscle relaxants given at general anesthesia, and injected radiocontrast medium are the commonest reported triggers of fatal drug anaphylaxis.
Anaphylactic reactions can often be mild, but even those have the potential to become life-threatening at any time.
Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction and requires immediate medical attention. Within minutes of exposure to the allergen, or 'trigger', a person can have potentially life-threatening symptoms such as breathing and/or heart symptoms. There is currently no cure for allergy.