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McKesson Clinical Reference Systems: Women's Health Advisor 2002.2
Spanish version
Severe Allergic Reaction (Anaphylactic Shock)
What is anaphylactic shock?
Anaphylactic shock is a severe allergic reaction that occurs
within minutes of exposure to an allergy-causing substance,
called an allergen. Examples of substances that can cause
this severe allergic reaction are penicillin or a bee sting.
How does it occur?
After contact with an allergen, your blood vessels leak
fluid into the area around them. As a result, your blood
pressure may drop suddenly. Because there is less blood
flow, less oxygen reaches your brain and other vital organs.
Since these organs cannot function properly, your body goes
into shock. In addition, your body responds to the allergen
by releasing chemicals such as histamines that cause
swelling of the skin, a red rash, and severe itching.
Complications of anaphylactic shock can include brain
damage, kidney failure, and death.
Substances that can cause anaphylactic shock include:
- food and food additives
- insect stings and bites
- agents used in immunotherapy, which is the controlled,
gradual exposure to a substance your body is allergic to
in an effort to desensitize you to it
- drugs such as penicillin
- drugs used as local anesthetics, such as benzocaine and
lidocaine
- vaccines such as antitetanus serum
- in rare cases, pollens, dust, other substances in the
air, or pet dander.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms of anaphylactic shock include:
- feeling faint
- rapid pulse
- difficulty breathing, including wheezing
- nausea and vomiting
- stomach pain
- swelling of lips, tongue, or throat (including the soft
palate and uvula, the soft structure hanging from the
palate)
- itchy, blotchy, raised rash called hives
- pale, cool, damp skin
- drowsiness, confusion, or loss of consciousness
- heart may stop beating.
How is it diagnosed?
If you are conscious, your health care provider will ask you
about contact with substances you may be allergic to. Then
your provider will examine you for symptoms of shock by
checking your:
- blood pressure
- pulse and heart rate
- breathing
- skin condition and color
- alertness and mental status.
Your health care provider may recommend tests to determine
the cause of your condition and its seriousness.
How is it treated?
Treating yourself:
If you have a known severe allergy, such as to a bee sting
or a food such as peanuts, which you might accidentally
contact, ask your health care provider about carrying
EpiPen. EpiPen is a single-dose injection kit of
epinephrine. With the kit you can give yourself a shot of
medicine to counteract the allergic reaction until medical
help arrives. While you wait for help, lie down and raise
your legs above the level of your chest to increase the
blood flow to your heart and brain.
Treating someone in severe shock:
Anaphylactic shock requires emergency medical attention. If
you suspect someone is in shock, call 911 and ask for
paramedics and an ambulance.
Check to see if the person has stopped breathing or if his
or her heart has stopped beating. If so, give
cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) until the person is
breathing and has a pulse or until paramedics arrive.
Next, make sure the person is lying down comfortably. If
the person has a clear airway (has nothing in his or her
mouth or throat), raise the person's legs above the level of
his or her chest to increase blood flow to the heart and
brain.
Look for a medical card or Medic Alert bracelet, which has
information about allergies.
When a doctor or paramedic arrives, he or she may give the
person an shot epinephrine (adrenaline) right away after
verifying anaphylaxis or a less severe allergy reaction. In
addition, the health care provider may:
- give the person drugs such as antihistamines or
cortisonelike drugs, possibly into the veins
- give fluids through the veins to increase fluid volume
inside the blood vessels
- hospitalize the person to be sure that his or her blood
pressure and heartbeat are restored to proper levels and
that the symptoms do not recur.
How long will the effects last?
How long the effects of anaphylactic shock last will depend
on how quickly the person receives treatment. The symptoms
may last from a few minutes to several hours. Without
immediate medical treatment, the result can be death, but
early treatment can help prevent serious complications.
How can I take care of myself?
Do not delay seeking help.
If you have had a previous severe allergic reaction, you may
want to:
- Ask your health care provider to prescribe several kits
to treat shock and review the instructions with you.
Check the expiration date on the kits. Review the
instructions until you are familiar with them. Carry one
kit with you in your briefcase, sports bag, or handbag,
and keep one at home.
- Be prepared to give yourself a shot in case of an
emergency. Think of the shot as something you can do to
keep yourself alive long enough to reach medical
attention.
- Wear a Medic Alert bracelet that warns of your allergy
and tells what to do in case of an emergency. Inform
your friends and co-workers of these measures.
- Avoid foods, chemicals, drugs, and other substances that
have caused allergic reactions. For example, if shrimp
causes an allergic reaction, don't eat shrimp or shrimp
sauce.
- Consider having immunotherapy, in which your immune
system is gradually exposed to the toxic substance to
make it less harmful to you. Immunotherapy is very
effective for insect allergies but not for food or drug
allergies.
- Always tell your health care provider and dentist about
any drug allergies you have before they prescribe
medication. Ask them to prescribe another drug as soon
as possible and ask for a list of related drugs. Also
tell your pharmacist about any drug allergies.
- Check labels before taking over-the-counter medicines or
eating foods if you have drug or food allergies.
How can I help prevent anaphylactic shock?
Learn what substance causes your reaction and avoid that
substance. Ask your health care provider about
desensitization treatments, which can help in some cases.
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