Anaphylaxis

Also termed anaphylactic shock, anaphylaxis is a systemic allergic reaction/sensitivity to a substance like a food protein, which can be fatal within minutes. This occurs either through swelling that shuts off bronchial airways, through a dramatic drop in blood pressure, or sudden loss of consciousness.

Physiological description:

Anaphylaxis occurs in allergic individuals when in contact with or after ingesting an allergen. Their immune system perceives the allergen as a foreign substance to which their bodies are primed to react against. To fight the foreign organism IgE proteins (a type of antibody) are mediated causing smooth-muscle contraction, resulting in several possible outcomes:

Distinctive symptoms:

• hives
• swelling of the throat, lips, tongue or around the eyes
• difficulty breathing or swallowing

other signs:

• metallic taste or itching in the mouth
• generalised flushing, itching or redness of the skin
• abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea
• increased heart rate
• paleness with rapid drop in blood pressure
• sudden weakness
• overwhelming anxiety
• collapse

Effective treatment is available, so death from anaphylaxis can be prevented in most cases. However, needless deaths still occur because symptoms go unrecognised or due to delayed treatment.