Anaphylaxis is a sudden, severe, potentially fatal, systemic allergic reaction that can involve various areas of the body (such as the skin, respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, and cardiovascular system). Symptoms may occur within minutes to two hours after contact with the allergy trigger but, in rare instances, may occur up to four hours later. Anaphylactic reactions can be mild to life threatening. The annual incidence of anaphylactic reactions is about 30 per 100,000 persons, and individuals with asthma, eczema, or hay fever are at greater relative risk of experiencing anaphylaxis.
-- Food
-- Medication. It usually occurs within an hour after taking a particular medication. The inherited genetic tendency to develop allergies is of definite significance here but contrary to what many people believe the fact that a member of the family does have an allergy to particular drug does not mean that other members are at a higher risk of developing an allergy to the same medication.
-- Insect stings. While any insect can cause a severe allergic reaction the most common culprits are honeybees, bumblebees, yellow jackets, hornets, wasps, fire ants, and harvester ants. The reaction occurs usually just minutes after the sting. It can be local with just the tissue surrounding the spot, to the whole adjacent area going swollen, to getting a really serious where the person starts feeling nausea, low grade fever, and ultimately experience swollen tissue inside the throat, difficultybreathing, and wheezing and chest tightness. Sting bites account for up to 50% of all allergies induced deaths each year. To minimize your risk of getting stung by an insect do not wear bright clothing when working outdoors, avoid using strong perfumes or scented cosmetics, be careful when cooking or eating outside.
-- Latex. It is most common in people who are daily exposed to latex, like health care workers and individual who work for the latex industry. Kids who for some reason need multiple repeated surgeries develop this type of allergy as well. Some foods that cause cross reaction with latex can cause allergic reaction too. The most common of these are: bananas, European chestnuts, avocados, and kiwi. Less common are tomatoes, potatoes, and pitted fruits like cherries, plums, etc.
Less common causes include:
-- Food-Dependent Exercise - Induced Anaphylaxis (the allergic reaction is triggered by a combination of two factors - digestion of a specific food and physical exercise within a couple of hours after that)
-- Idiopathic Anaphylaxis - this is an anaphylactic reaction caused by an unrecognized trigger. The person exhibits every symptom of anaphylaxis, but no cause can be identified.
Anyone with a previous history of anaphylactic reactions is at risk for another severe reaction. Individuals with food allergies (particularly allergies to peanuts, nuts, fish and shell fish) and asthma (especially if accompanied by an array of other allergies) may be at increased risk for having a life-threatening anaphylactic reaction. A recent study showed that teens with food allergy and asthma appear to be at highest risk for a reaction because they are more likely to dine away from home, they are less likely to carry medications, and they may ignore or not recognize symptoms.
An anaphylactic reaction may begin with a tingling sensation, itching, or metallic taste in the mouth. Symptoms also may include hives, a sensation of warmth, asthma symptoms (coughing and wheezing, chest tightness and difficulty breathing), swelling of the mouth and throat area, difficulty breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, cramping, a sudden and severe drop in blood pressure, and loss of consciousness. The symptoms may appear right after exposure to a trigger or up to two hours after exposure. It may not look serious at first, but life-threatening reactions may progress over hours.
With some people the reaction begins then the symptoms go away only to return two to three hours later. This is called a "biphasic reaction." Often the symptoms occur in the respiratory tract and take the individual by surprise.
Epinephrine (the hormone adrenaline) is the most commonly used drug. It stops the further progression of the reaction and helps reverse the symptoms that have already occurred. It is obtained by prescription and is available as EpiPen® or Twinject™ for self injection. It is important to give yourself a shot right after you experience the firs symptoms. Antihistamines, steroids and asthma inhalers are given to help with the epinephrine but never instead of it, as they can not reverse thesymptoms that have already occurred as full as the epinephrine does.
What to do if you experience an anaphylactic reaction:
For additional, visit
The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.