In most cases, people with allergies develop mild to moderate symptoms such as watery eyes, runny nose, or a rash. But sometimes exposure to an allergen can cause a life-threatening allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis. This violent reaction occurs when the excessive release of chemicals puts the person in shock. Allergies to food, insect stings, drugs, and latex are most commonly associated with anaphylaxis. At the first sign of anaphylaxis, call 911 and go to the nearest emergency room, even if you have administered an adrenaline auto-injector, the drug used to treat severe allergic reactions. Just because an allergic person has never had an anaphylactic reaction to an offending allergen in the past doesn’t mean it won’t happen in the future. If you have had an anaphylactic reaction in the past, you are at risk for a future reaction.
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Management and Treatment of Anaphylaxis
An anaphylactic reaction should be treated immediately with an injection of adrenaline. This medicine is prescribed with an auto-injector, which you should always carry with you. Two injections may be needed to control symptoms. Here are some tips for reducing the risk of anaphylaxis:
Know Your Triggers
If you have had anaphylaxis, it is very important to know what triggers the reaction. An allergist can review your medical history and perform diagnostic tests if necessary. The most common triggers are:
Food; including peanuts, tree nuts such as hazelnuts and walnuts, fish, shellfish, cow’s milk and eggs.
Latex; It is found in disposable gloves, intravenous tubing, syringes, adhesive tapes, and catheters. Healthcare workers, children with spina bifida and genitourinary abnormalities, and people who work with natural latex are at higher risk for latex-induced anaphylaxis.
Medicines; including penicillin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin, and anesthesia.
Bug Bite; The bees most likely to trigger anaphylaxis are wasps, hornets, yellow-jacketed bees and fire ants.
Avoid Your Trigger
The most effective way to prevent anaphylaxis is to avoid the factors that can cause it. Your allergist will work with you to develop specific avoidance measures specifically tailored to your age, activities, occupation, hobbies, home environment and access to medical care. Some common avoidance techniques for common triggers include:
Avoidance of Food Allergy
Read the labels of all the products you consume; Be sure to carefully review all food ingredient labels to reveal potential allergens. When dining out, ask the restaurant how the food was prepared and what ingredients were used. If you have a child with a history of anaphylaxis, inform the school staff about the child’s condition. Inform the officers to use adrenaline when necessary.
Avoidance of Drug Allergy
Be sure to mention your allergy to any doctor you see so they can prescribe safe alternatives to the medications you’re allergic to and alert you to other medications you may need to avoid. Know the drugs you are allergic to well and make sure that there are no allergen substances in the content before using any drug.
Avoidance In Insect Allergy
To prevent insect bites, avoid walking barefoot on grass in late summer and early autumn during active insect season, drinking water from open beverage cans, wearing brightly colored clothing with floral patterns, sweet-smelling perfumes, hair sprays, and lotions. Your allergist can also provide a preventative treatment for insect sting allergy called venom immunotherapy. The treatment works by applying gradually increasing doses of purified insect venom and has been shown to be 90 to 98 percent effective in preventing future allergic reactions to insect stings.
Always Be Prepared For Anaphylaxis
Rapid recognition of anaphylaxis symptoms is very important. If you come into contact with your trigger unexpectedly, you should immediately follow the emergency plan outlined by your doctor, including self-administration of adrenaline. If there is any doubt about the reaction, it is usually better to apply adrenaline. Make sure you keep your adrenaline auto-injector up to date. If only an expired auto-injector is available in an emergency, still apply it immediately. Teachers and other caregivers should be informed about children at risk for anaphylaxis and know what to do in an allergic emergency.
Aall The Ambulance
If a severe reaction occurs and adrenaline is given, you need to go by ambulance to the nearest emergency room for additional monitoring.
Inform The People Around You About Your Allergy
Make sure your friends and relatives know about your allergies. Those people; They should be aware of your condition, your triggers, and know how to recognize anaphylactic symptoms. If you’re carrying adrenaline, be warned about where you keep them and how to use them.
Wear Alert Bracelet
Carry identification or jewelry (such as a bracelet or necklace) that indicates the condition and irritating allergens.
What Are The Symptoms of Anaphylaxis?
The symptoms of anaphylaxis come on suddenly and can progress very quickly. Early symptoms may be mild, such as a runny nose, skin rash, or a strange feeling. However, these symptoms can quickly combine with other symptoms, leading to more serious problems. The main symptoms of anaphylaxis are:
- difficulty in breathing,
- hives or swelling,
- feeling of tightness in the throat,
- muffled voice,
- Nausea,
- Vomiting,
- Stomach ache,
- Diarrhea,
- dizziness,
- Fainting,
- low blood pressure,
- rapid heartbeat,
- The feeling that something terrible is going to happen, the feeling of doom,
- Cardiac arrest.
People who have had a severe allergic reaction are also at greater risk for future reactions. Even if your first reaction is mild, later reactions can be more severe. That’s why it’s important to carry self-injectable adrenaline if you’re at risk, and you should call 911 immediately in case of a very serious reaction. The best way to understand anaphylaxis and what can trigger this severe allergic reaction is to see an allergist who can help you manage your condition.
