What is anaphylaxis? Signs, symptoms and dangers

Many people globally exhibit a form of allergy to a specific substance in the atmosphere. Still, these allergies are minimal, and mostly an individual’s entire life may pass without any serious reactions.

What is Anaphylaxis?
Anaphylaxis is the condition in which an individual’s allergic reaction to a certain allergen causes substantial danger to his/her life. In this condition, exposure to the allergen causes an instantaneous reaction and without immediate and effective medical care, the immune system cannot cope up with the sudden riposte and fails.

What are the signs and symptoms of Anaphylaxis?
The allergen varies from person to person but typically the set of symptoms are identical including, but not limited to:

  • Shortness of breath
  • A decrease in blood pressure
  • Vomiting
  • Itchiness
  • Swelling of the tongue and throat
  • Lightheadedness

After the individual has been exposed to the allergen, the symptoms may be observed over a time period of minutes to hours depending on certain factors such as level of exposure, the strength of one’s immune system etc.

Dangers of Anaphylaxis:-
Anaphylaxis is an extremely dangerous threat affecting the respiratory and cardiovascular systems simultaneously, and although a very small proportion of individuals have shown fatal results. Still, without proper management and time efficiency, death is a very eminent causal effect.

Treatment and Management:-
The body’s mechanism towards any intrusive substance is for the immune system to identify and then counter the matter.

In the case of anaphylaxis, the first reaction is the narrowing of the blood vessels. The body releases mediators from its white blood cells that dilate the coagulated veins in which the allergen is present to fight it. But since the reaction is so expeditious, the immune system cannot solely retaliate and requires medical help.

Generally, allergy treatment includes injection of intravenous fluids using EpiPen auto-injectors, nasal sprays, provision of oxygen etc. EpiPen usage is the most common treatment method, sometimes repeatedly given after a single incident and primarily is injected in the thigh area, under medical administration. For individuals prone to allergic reactions or with multiple allergies, carrying an EpiPen at all times along with avoidance of allergen is advisable.

Epipens are, with authentic medical prescriptions, easily found at dispensaries or online by using keywords such as EpiPen Auto-Injector Online UK or Rhinocort Nasal Spray Online UK. Nasal sprays are also effectively helpful in mediating such a medical emergency.