Anaphylaxis is a severe and rapid systemic allergic reaction to a trigger substance, called an allergen. Minute amounts of trigger substances may cause a life-threatening anaphylactic reaction. Anaphylaxis may occur after ingestion, inhalation, skin contact or injection of a trigger substance. The most severe type of anaphylaxis - anaphylactic shock - will usually result in death if untreated. An allergy or Type I hypersensitivity is a immune malfunction whereby a persons body is hypersensitised to react immunologically to typically nonimmunogenic substances. ... An allergen is any substance (antigen), most often eaten or inhaled, that is recognized by the immune system and causes an allergic reaction. ...

Immediate action

Anaphylactic shock is a life-threatening medical emergency because of rapid constriction of the airway, often within minutes of onset. Calling for help immediately can save precious minutes. First aid for anaphylactic shock consists of obtaining advanced medical care at once; rescue breathing (a skill which is part of CPR) is likely to be ineffective but should be attempted if the victim stops breathing. The patient may have been diagnosed with anaphylaxis in the past, and could be carrying an Epi-pen (or similar device) that could be available for immediate administration of epinephrine (adrenaline) by a layperson. Repetitive administration is only dangerous when done in rapid succession. Pulse rates in double-administration cases have been known to cause tachycardia (rapid heartbeat) and occasionally ventricular tachycardia with heart rates up to 240 beats per minute. Nevertheless, if epinephrine prevents worsening of the airway constriction, it may still be life-saving. An emergency is a situation that poses an immediate threat to human life or serious damage to property. ... For the aerial route, see Airway (aviation). ... Below are ways to call for help in an emergency. ... First aid is a series of simple, life-saving medical techniques that a non-doctor or layman can be trained to perform. ... CPR on adult Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), is emergency first aid for an unconscious person on whom breathing and pulse cannot be detected. ... A 0. ... Epinephrine (INN) or adrenaline (BAN) is a hormone and a neurotransmitter. ... Tachycardia ??? is an abnormally rapid beating of the heart, defined as a resting heart rate of over 100 beats per minute. ... Tachycardia is an abnormally rapid beating of the heart, defined as a resting heart rate of over 100 beats per minute. ...

Symptoms

Symptoms can include respiratory distress, hypotension (low blood pressure), fainting, unconsciousness, urticaria (hives), angioedema (swelling of the face, neck and throat) and itching. The symptoms are related to the action of immunoglobulin E (IgE) and other anaphylatoxins, which act to release histamine and other mediator substances from mast cells (degranulation). Histamine induces, beside other effects, vasodilation and bronchospasm (constriction of the airways). In physiology and medicine, hypotension refers to an abnormally low blood pressure. ... Fainting or syncope is a sudden (and generally momentary) loss of consciousness due to a lack of sufficient blood and oxygen reaching the brain. ... In medicine, a coma (from the Greek koma, meaning deep sleep) is a profound state of unconsciousness, which may result from a variety of conditions including intoxication (drug, alcohol or toxins), metabolic abnormalities (hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, ketoacidosis, etc. ... Angioedema (BE: angiooedema), also known by its eponym Quinckes edema and the older term angioneurotic edema, is the rapid swelling (edema) of the skin, mucosa and submucosal tissues. ... An itch (Latin: pruritus) is a sensation felt on an area of skin that makes a person or animal want to scratch it. ... Schematic of antibody binding to an antigen An antibody is a protein complex used by the immune system to identify and neutralize foreign objects like bacteria and viruses. ... Anaphylatoxin, or anaphylotoxin, is a fragment (C3a, C4a or C5a) of the complement system that triggers degranulation of (release of substances from) mast cells or basophils, which is an important part of the immune system in all kinds of inflammation and especially as part of defense against parasites. ... Histamine is a monoamine chemical involved in local immune responses. ... A mast cell (or mastocyte) is a resident cell of connective tissue that contains many granules rich in histamine and heparin. ... The blood vessels are part of the circulatory system and function to transport blood throughout the body. ... Difficulty in breathing caused by a sudden constriction of the muscles in the wall of the bronchi. ...

Causes

Common causative agents in humans include:

foods (e.g. nuts, peanuts and other legumes, fish and shellfish, milk, and eggs);

drugs (e.g. penicillin and other cephalosporins, contrast media, ASA and other NSAIDs such as ibuprofen and diclofenac);

latex;

Hymenoptera stings (bee or wasp {yellow jacket and hornet} and some ants that sting); and

exercise (see exercise-induced anaphylaxis).

Transfusion of incompatible blood products may cause an equivalent clinical picture. NUTS is an acronym, meaning: Neils Unix Talk Server Nuclear Utilization Target Selection -- counterpart to MAD Nuclear Use Theorists (More properly formatted NUTs) Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics New Ulm Trebuchet Society (Minnesota) See also: NUT This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that... Binomial name Arachis hypogaea L. The Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) is a species in the pea family Fabaceae native to South America. ... Varieties of soybean seeds, a popular legume The term legume has two closely related meanings in botany, a situation encountered with many botanical common names of useful plants whereby an applied name can refer to either the plant itself, or to the edible fruit (or useful part). ... Atlantic herring, Clupea harengus, the most abundant fish species in the world. ... Shellfish is a term used to describe molluscs and crustaceans used as food. ... A glass of milk Milk most often means the nutrient fluid produced by the mammary glands of female mammals. ... Egg has multiple meanings. ... Many drugs are provided in tablet form. ... Penicillin is a β-lactam antibiotic used in the treatment of bacterial infections caused by susceptible, usually Gram-positive, organisms. ... The cephalosporins, are a class of ß-lactam antibiotics. ... Radiocontrast agents (or simply contrast agents) are compounds used to improve the visibility of internal bodily structures in an X-ray image. ... The Aesir (Old Norse sir, singular ss, feminine synja, feminine plural synjur) are the principal pantheon of gods in Norse mythology. ... Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, usually abbreviated to NSAIDs, are drugs with analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory effects - they reduce pain, fever and inflammation. ... Ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to relieve the symptoms of arthritis, primary dysmenorrhoea, fever; and as an analgesic, especially where there is an inflammatory component. ... Diclofenac (marketed as Voltaren®, Voltarol® and Cataflam®) is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) taken to reduce inflammation, such as in arthritis or acute injury. ... The extraction of Latex from a tree; Latex is used in Rubber production. ... Suborders Apocrita Symphyta Many families, see article Hymenoptera is one of the larger orders of Insects, comprising the sawflies, wasps, bees, and ants. ... Families Andrenidae Anthophoridae Apidae Colletidae Ctenoplectridae Halictidae Heterogynaidae Megachilidae Melittidae Oxaeidae Sphecidae Stenotritidae bee or bees, see bee (disambiguation). ... WASP (an acronym for White Anglo-Saxon Protestant) is a term that originally denoted the culture, customs, and heritage of the American élite Establishment. ... Yellowjackets are black-and-yellow wasps of the genus Vespula or Dolichovespula. ... Hornets are large eusocial wasps. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... The word exercise can mean the following: A setting in action or practicing. ... Exercise-induced anaphylaxis is a syndrome in which the symptoms of anaphylaxis occur, but only after exposure to a triggering agent and increased physical activity. ... Blood transfusion is the taking of blood or blood-based products from one individual and inserting them into the circulatory system of another. ... Red blood cells (erythrocytes) are present in the blood and help carry oxygen to the rest of the cells in the body Blood is a circulating tissue composed of fluid plasma and cells (red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets). ...

Treatment

Paramedic treatment in the field may include injection with epinephrine, administration of oxygen therapy and, if necessary, intubation during transport to advanced medical care. In profuse angioedema, tracheotomy may be required to maintain oxygenation. Typical view of the defibrillator operator. ... Epinephrine (INN) or adrenaline (BAN) is a hormone and a neurotransmitter. ... General Name, Symbol, Number Oxygen, O, 8 Chemical series nonmetals Group, Period, Block 16 (VIA), 2, p Density, Hardness 1. ... Intubation being practiced on a dummy (conventional technique using a laryngoscope) In medicine, intubation is the placement of a tube into an external or internal orifice of the body. ... Angioedema (BE: angiooedema), also known by its eponym Quinckes edema and the older term angioneurotic edema, is the rapid swelling (edema) of the skin, mucosa and submucosal tissues. ... Tracheotomy is a surgical procedure used to cut a hole in the trachea through which a small tube is inserted. ...

The clinical treatment of anaphylaxis by a doctor and in the hospital setting aims to treat the cellular hypersensitivity reaction as well as at the symptoms. Antihistamine drugs (which inhibit the effects of histamine at histamine receptors) are given but usually not sufficient in anaphylaxis, and high doses of intravenous corticosteroids are often required. Hypotension is treated with intravenous fluids and sometimes vasoconstrictor drugs. For bronchospasm, brochodilator drugs are used. In severe cases, immediate treatment with epinephrine can be lifesaving. Supportive care with mechanical ventilation may be required. A hospital today is an institution for professional health care provided in part by physicians and nurses. ... Hypersensitivity is the name given to a state in which an immune response damages the bodys own tissues. ... An antihistamine is a drug which serves to reduce or eliminate effects mediated by histamine, an endogenous chemical mediator released during allergic reactions, through action at the histamine receptor. ... In physiology, corticosteroids are a class of steroid hormones that are produced in the adrenal cortex. ... Epinephrine (INN) or adrenaline (BAN) is a hormone and a neurotransmitter. ... ventilation balloon In medicine, mechanical ventilation method to assist or replace spontaneous breathing. ...

See also

Atopic syndrome Hypersensitivity In medicine, the atopic syndrome is the clustering of eczema, allergic conjunctivitis, allergic rhinitis and asthma in certain individuals. ... Hypersensitivity is the name given to a state in which an immune response damages the bodys own tissues. ...