Anaphylaxis (Anaphylaxis): Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

Anaphylaxis is an allergic reaction caused by different allergenic substances such as drugs, food, or insect bites, among others. Can be life threatening if it is not treated immediately.

Next we will explain what is ampphylaxis or anaphylaxis, what are its most common causes, what symptoms does it cause, how is the diagnosis made, what is the treatment that is applies to alleviate their symptoms, what is the prognosis that it can carry and what preventions can be taken to avoid it.

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Anaphylaxis (anaphylaxis) - what is it?

Anaphylaxis is an allergic reaction that progresses rapidly and endangers the life of the sufferer. The immune system responds to substances that would otherwise be harmless to the environment (allergens).

Unlike other allergic reactions, however, anaphylaxis can kill. The reaction can start within minutes or even seconds after exposure, and progresses rapidly to cause constriction of the airways, intestinal and skin irritation and heart rhythms altered. In severe cases, it can result in complete airway obstruction, shock, and death.

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Common causes

Allergens are more likely to cause anaphylaxis if they are introduced directly into the circulatory system by injection. However, exposure through ingestion, inhalation, or skin contact can also cause anaphylaxis. In some cases, anaphylaxis can develop over time from less severe allergies.

Anaphylaxis is most often due to allergens in food, drugs, and insect venom. Specific causes include:

• Fish, shellfish and mollusks.
• Nuts and seeds.
• Bee, wasp, or hornet stings.
• Papain from meat tenderizers.
• Vaccines, including flu and measles vaccines.
• Penicillin.
• Cephalosporins.
• Streptomycin.
• Gamma globulin.
• Insulin.
• Hormones (ACTH, thyroid stimulating hormone).
• Aspirin and other NSAIDs.
• Latex, from exam gloves or condoms, for example.

Also, exposure to cold or exercise can trigger an anaphylaxis response in some people.

Symptoms of anaphylaxis

Symptoms develop quickly, usually within seconds or minutes. Anaphylaxis can include any of the following symptoms listed below. Still, not everyone has to be present.

• Abdominal pain.
• Anxiety and / or feeling confused.
• Discomfort or tightness in the chest.
• Diarrhea.
• Cramps.
• Wheezing
• Difficulty breathing, coughing, wheezing, or high-pitched breath sounds.
• Difficulty to swallow.
• Dizziness.
• Hives, itching, redness of the skin.
• Nasal congestion.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Palpitations
• Poor articulation of language.
• Swelling of the face and eyes.
• Swelling and irritation of the tongue and / or mouth.
• Swelling of the breasts
• Loss of consciousness

Diagnosis

Anaphylactic reaction is diagnosed based on the rapid development of symptoms in response to a suspected allergen. Its identification can be made with the RAST test. It is a blood test that identifies IgE (type E immunoglobulin) reactions to specific allergens. Skin tests can be done for less severe anaphylactic reactions.

Treatment

Emergency treatment of anaphylaxis involves adrenaline injection (epinephrine) which constricts blood vessels and counteracts the effects of histamine. Oxygen can be given, as well as intravenous replacement fluids.

Antihistamines can be used for skin rash and aminophylline for bronchial constriction. If the upper airway is obstructed, a breathing tube or tracheostomy tube may need to be placed.

Forecast and expectations

Anaphylaxis can be fatal without prompt treatment. Symptoms usually improve with proper therapy, so it is important to act immediately.

The rapidity of the development of symptoms is an indication of the possible severity of the reaction: the faster the symptoms develop, the more severe the final reaction. Going to the doctor urgently and close follow-up reduce the probability of death in anaphylaxis. For this reason, most people who receive rapid treatment fully recover.

If not acted on quickly, anaphylaxis can obstruct airways, lead to cardiac arrest, respiratory arrest or fatal anaphylactic shock.

Prevention: what can we do to avoid it?

The main reliable method of preventing anaphylaxis and allergic reactions is to avoid the allergic trigger, such as foods and medicines, that have caused an allergic reaction in the last.

For insect allergies, this requires recognition of likely nesting sites. Prevention of food allergies requires knowledge of the prepared foods or dishes in which the allergen is likely to occur, and careful questioning of ingredients when dining out.

If you have a child who is allergic to certain foods, you can introduce one new food at a time in small amounts so that an allergic reaction can be recognized.

People prone to anaphylaxis should carry an "Epipen" or "Ana-kit", which contains a dose of adrenaline ready for injection. As well as a medical identification tag.

Bibliographic references:

• Robinson, R. (2002). Anaphylaxis. In D. S. Blanchfield & J. L. Longe (Eds.), The Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine (2nd ed., Vol. 1, pp. 178-180). Detroit: Gale.
• MedlinePlus (2018). Anaphylaxis. Available in https://medlineplus.gov/spanish/ency/article/000844.htm [Consulted 06 June 2018].