Anaphylaxis

Overview

Anaphylaxis is a severe and potentially life-threatening allergic reaction to such allergy-causing substances as insect venoms, latex, foods and medications.

Your immune system produces antibodies that defend against foreign substances, including allergens. These antibodies release chemicals that may cause symptoms such as watery eyes and a runny nose. Anaphylaxis occurs when your immune system severely overreacts to an allergen.

Allergy Relief

Some of the medications used to treat respiratory allergy symptoms include antihistamines, decongestants, nasal sprays and eyedrops.

What do medications do?

Allegra D
Allegra
Claritin-D
Flonase
Nasacort
Nasacort AQ
Nasonex
Patanol
Zyrtec

The flood of chemicals in your body makes your blood pressure drop suddenly, and your bronchial tubes narrow, causing difficulty breathing or even unconsciousness and death. You may have an anaphylactic response within seconds or minutes of exposure to an allergen such as a bee sting or an ingested peanut.

Although anaphylaxis is the most dangerous type of allergic reaction, it's also the least common. Still, hundreds of Americans die of anaphylactic shock each year.

Fortunately, you can be prepared to respond quickly and effectively to an allergic emergency. It's equally important to do all you can to prevent exposure to life-threatening allergens.

Signs and symptoms

An anaphylactic reaction is most likely to occur after you've been stung by a bee or bitten by an insect, eaten food containing food allergens, or taken a new medication. The effects of anaphylaxis aren't limited to the site of the exposure. Suspect anaphylaxis if you develop the following signs and symptoms within minutes of exposure to an allergen:

• Constriction of your airways, including a swollen throat, that results in difficulty breathing
  
• Shock associated with a severe decrease in blood pressure
  
• Weak and rapid pulse
  
• Dizziness or fainting
  
• Hives and large welts below your skin surface (angioedema)
  
• Flushing of your skin and intense itching
  
• Swelling of your lips and tongue
  
• Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea