|
|
|
Anaphylaxis
A potentially life-threatening reaction
What is anaphylaxis?
Anaphylaxis (an-a-fi-LAK-sis) is a serious allergic reaction that can cause death. It can happen in people who have allergies or asthma, and it may be caused by a number of normally harmless things called allergens. Most often it is caused by foods, insect stings and medicines. Anaphylactic signs (or symptoms) usually do not happen the first time you are near the allergen. That’s because it can take some time for your body to build up a dislike for the allergen. Signs of anaphylaxis usually start in 5 to 30 minutes of coming in contact with the allergen. But, sometimes symptoms can begin after 1 hour. An anaphylactic reaction can make it hard to breathe, or cause you to pass out. It can even cause death. That’s why anaphylaxis is always an emergency. It is important to know when anaphylaxis is happening, how to treat it and how to stop it from happening again.
What are the signs of anaphylaxis?
Signs of anaphylaxis usually include several of the following:
- A red rash, with welts, that usually is itchy.
- Swollen throat or swollen areas of the body.
- Wheezing (breathing that sounds like whistling from your chest).
- Passing out.
- Chest tightness.
- Trouble breathing.
- A hoarse voice.
- Trouble swallowing.
- Vomiting.
- Diarrhea.
- Abdominal cramping.
- A pale or red color to the face and body.
Anaphylaxis is a dangerous medical emergency that can lead to death. If you think you or your child may be having an anaphylactic reaction, call 9-1-1 to get immediate help.
Is anaphylaxis common?
Each year, about 40 people die after an anaphylactic reaction to insect stings, and about 100 people die from reactions to food.
How do you treat anaphylaxis?
If you have an anaphylactic reaction, you should see an allergist/immunologist to write a treatment plan for your allergies. An allergist/immunologist is a doctor who has special training to treat allergies and asthma. The treatment plan will help you figure out how to avoid the allergens that could lead to anaphylaxis:
- If you have food allergies, avoid those foods. Milk, eggs, peanuts, wheat, soy, fish, shellfish and tree nuts are the foods that most often cause anaphylaxis in people who are allergic to these foods.
- If you are allergic to latex, do not use natural rubber latex products, such as gloves or balloons.
- If you have severe insect allergy, avoid spending time outside during insect season. Ask your doctor about receiving insect venom immunotherapy (allergy shots) to protect you against future reactions.
If you are so severely allergic to something that it can trigger an anaphlactic reaction, you will probably always need to be on the lookout for that trigger and carry epinephrine that can be used to control anaphylaxis. If you are so severely allergic to something that it can trigger an anaphylactic reaction, you will probably always need to be on the lookout for that trigger and carry epinephrine that can be used to control anaphylaxis.
If you have think you may be having an anaphylactic reaction, you should:
- Use your autoinjectable epinephrine.
- Call 9-1-1, even if you think your reaction is under control.
Modified from AAAAI Web site www.aaaai.org
Atlanta allergy treatment Doctor Thomas Chacko has practiced in Atlanta for several years, earning
top reviews and becoming rated one of America's Top Doctors in Allergy/Immunology. Doctor Chacko is a Board Certified Pediatric and Adult Allergist/Immunologist. Doctor Chacko has multiple publications, including a review on the current asthma guidelines and a chapter on anaphylaxis in the operating room. He has also presented his research on allergy skin testing and immunotherapy at national meeting for the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology and the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Dr. Chacko is originally from New York City and moved to the Atlanta in 2007.
About Northside ENT: We pride ourselves on providing excellent care and
individual attention to our patients. Therefore, patients see the same allergist (Dr. Chacko) every visit and we get to know our patients very well. The goals of our practice are:
- Provide high quality care to all patients
- Listen to our patients and their needs
- Treat patients as we would want to be treated
We cover all areas of adult and pediatric allergy and immunology, including allergic rhinitis (hay fever), sinusitis, asthma, chronic cough, allergen immunotherapy, skin testing, food allergy, hives, drug allergy, anaphylaxis and generalized immune deficiencies.
Cathy Petzelt is Dr. Chacko’s medical assistant. She has more than 20 years experience in allergy. She is especially gifted with children, which our parents will attest to. We try to provide a family environment at Northside ENT.
Call 770-475-3361 to schedule your allergy evaluation with one of our board certified ENT specialists or our board certified allergist or fill out our Contact Form.
|
|
|
|
