Content
Anaphylaxis, also known as anaphylactic shock, consists of a severe allergic reaction, which can be fatal if not treated quickly. This reaction is triggered by the body itself when there is a reaction to some type of allergen, which can be a food, medicine, insect venom, substance or material.
The anaphylactic reaction starts quickly, and can develop in a few minutes or a few hours, leading to symptoms such as low blood pressure, swelling of the lips, mouth and difficulty breathing.
In case of suspicion of anaphylaxis, it is recommended to go immediately to the medical emergency, so that the treatment is done as soon as possible. Treatment usually consists of administering injectable adrenaline and monitoring the person's vital signs.
Main symptoms
Anaphylaxis symptoms usually appear very quickly and include:
- Redness in the skin and mucous membranes;
- Generalized itching;
- Swelling of the lips and tongue;
- Feeling of bolus in the throat.
- Difficulty breathing.
In addition, other less frequent symptoms, which may also appear are: incontinence, abdominal colic, vomiting and a strange metallic taste in the mouth.
In addition, the type of symptoms may also vary according to age. The following table shows the most common symptoms in children and adults:
Adults | Children |
Redness in the skin | Redness on the skin |
Swelling of the tongue | Respiratory wheezing |
Nausea, vomiting and / or diarrhea | Dry cough |
Dizziness, fainting or hypotension | Nausea, vomiting and / or diarrhea |
Sneezing and / or nasal obstruction | Paleness, fainting and / or hypotension |
Itching | Swelling of the tongue |
| Itching |
What are the most common causes
Anaphylaxis occurs due to exposure to allergens, which are substances to which the immune system overreacts. Some examples of the most common allergens are:
- Foods such as eggs, milk, soy, gluten, peanuts and other nuts, fish, molluscs and crustaceans, for example;
- Medicines;
- Insect poison, such as bees or wasps;
- Materials, such as latex or nickel;
- Substances, such as pollen or animal hair.
Learn to identify what may be the cause of the allergy, through an examination.
How the treatment is done
Anaphylaxis treatment should be started as soon as possible in the hospital and, therefore, if this type of reaction is suspected, it is very important to go to the emergency room. In the face of an anaphylactic shock, the first thing that is usually done is the administration of injectable adrenaline. After that, the person is under observation in the hospital, where his vital signs are monitored.
In addition, in some cases, it may be necessary to administer oxygen and other medications, such as antihistamines, such as intramuscular or intravenous clemastine or hydroxyzine, oral corticosteroids, such as methylprednisolone or prednisolone and, if necessary, repeat intra-muscular adrenaline, every 5 minutes up to a maximum of 3 administrations.
If bronchospasm occurs, it may be necessary to use salbutamol by inhalation. For hypotension, saline or a crystalloid solution can be administered.