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Causes, symptoms and treatment of anaphylactic shock

Anaphylactic shock - severe allergic reaction that can lead to death. It affects various organ systems, but most often shot subject

  • respiratory system
  • cardiovascular system
  • the skin and mucous membranes
  • gastrointestinal tract

The rate of flow processes inherent to conventional Allergy, in this case accelerated tenfold, and their expression was much more pronounced.

The content of the article:


The causes of anaphylactic shock

Determining the cause of anaphylaxis is often hindered by too many allergens that can act as a catalyst. Based on the statistics, we can say that in most cases the body responds in a similar way to

  • the bites of insects
  • food
  • taking certain types of medication
  • the interaction of contrast agents.

Insect bites. In the world there are over a million different insect species, which bite can provoke an anaphylactic reaction. But most often Allergy occurs in affected bees or wasps, and in 1% of stung it can turn into anaphylaxis.

Food gives impetus to the development of anaphylaxis at least in one third of people affected by food allergies. On some of our most dangerous products include

  • Nuts: first of all, peanuts and its derivatives (butter), hazelnuts, almonds, walnuts and Brazil nuts

  • Milk
  • Seafood: fish, clams, crab meat

Less common severe allergic reaction to eggs and fruit or berries (bananas, grapes, strawberries).

Medications lead to anaphylactic reactions in a significant number of cases. In a number of medications that can lead to such a result:

  • antibiotics (especially penicillin, ampicillin, and others from bitsillin penicillin)
  • anesthetics used during surgery: intravenous – Propofol, Thiopental, and Ketamine andinhalation form – Sevoflurane, Halothane, etc.)
  • nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, including the commonly used aspirin and paracetamol

  • angiotensin-converting enzyme (Enalapril, Captopril, etc.) used for the treatment of hypertension

The last form of drugs (ACE inhibitors) can cause an allergic reaction leading to anaphylactic shock, even if the drug for several years, taken by the patient.

Medicines of other groups lead to anaphylaxis within minutes or hours after the first dose.

However, the risk of allergic reactions to the use of these drugs is very small. It is difficult to compare with the value of a positive therapeutic effect from these drugs. The likelihood that the body will perceive them as an allergen and will give anaphylactic reaction is

  • 1 to 5, 000 when taking penicillin
  • 1 in 10,000 when using anesthetics
  • 1 to 1 500 with the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
  • 1 to 3 000 with the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme

Contrast agents used in diagnosis of various diseases. Most often they are administered intravenously when conducting radiological examinations of the internal organs: fluoroscopy, computer tomography or angiography. They help to consider in detail the authorities of suspected pathology. The danger of anaphylaxis in this case is about 1 in 10,000 studies.


The symptoms of anaphylactic shock

Depending on the way the introduction of allergen into the body changes the time after which appear the first symptoms. So, an insect bite facilitates almost instant reaction, growing from 1-2 minutes to half an hour. Food Allergy finds himself during most of time from 10 minutes to several hours.

As a rule, the development of symptoms occurs within 5-30 minutes after occurrence. Depending on the severity of the process can be or minor skin itching or acute reaction, exciting the body and leading to death. The faster is the amplification of symptoms, the higher the probability of death if assistance is not provided in time.

Most clearly expressed by the following clinical symptoms that indicate involvement in the processvarious organs and systems:

  • Change skin, characterized by a bright rash with severe itching

  • Change in mucous membranes, causing tearing and swelling of eyes, lips, tongue, and nasal passages

  • Breathing disorders due to the involvement of reactions of the respiratory tract, their swelling and spasms
  • Swelling of the throat leading to a sensation of coma, squeezing the neck

  • Abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, especially when the penetration of the allergen through the esophagus

  • The appearance of false taste sensation like a metal taste in my mouth
  • Dizziness, panic reaction

  • Palpitations, drop in blood pressure, fainting or dizziness

Diagnosis of anaphylaxis

At present, medical researches are not able to predict the possibility of an anaphylactic reaction if she has never encountered. The risk group includes all who suffer from allergies. The diagnosis is made later, either during the reaction itself by the symptoms and their rate of development, or after the relief. Because of the huge risk of delay, leading to a fatal outcome, it is not possible a detailed study of each of the characteristic features of anaphylaxis. The speed with which deteriorating state of health requires immediate treatment.

Detection of the allergen that triggered this reaction of the body, is an important milestone following the treatment of anaphylaxis. If you are faced with allergies, then you should be carried out all the necessary and specialized research to clarify the diagnosis of Allergy in General and the cause of anaphylactic reactions in particular:

  • Skin tests
  • Cutaneous or application test (Patch-test)
  • Blood sampling for analysis of IgE
  • Provocative tests

The goal of laboratory tests is to precisely identify the allergen that causes this reaction. For safety when excessively strong response to the organism, the study should be conducted with maximum caution.

RAST (radioallergosorbent test) is considered the safest study. This radioimmunoassay method allows the most accurate calculation of the culprit of anaphylaxis, without interfering in the activities of the patient. For it examines the interaction of the blood of the victimwith consistently added to her allergens. The allocation of a significant amount of antibodies after yet another implementation, indicates the detection of the allergen that caused the reaction.


Treatment of anaphylactic shock

The rate of development and severity of symptoms that accompany anaphylaxis, will take her to urgent conditions requiring immediate medical intervention. The terminal phase of this condition is called anaphylactic shock.

Every second counts in cases of suspected anaphylaxis. Have any symptoms you yourself or someone close to you – the first thing you need to call the ambulance. Right given aid before arrival of doctors increases the chances of survival.

Required immediately to eliminate contact with the allergen. If he entered the body through the esophagus, and conscious, performed gastric lavage. If after an insect bite in the body left a sting, then it is removed. You can use a tourniquet above the bite or injection of a drug to slow down its penetration into the body.

Anaphylactic shock is almost guaranteed to manifest when re-entering the allergen into the body. So if you suspect anaphylaxis need to keep a set of emergency aid, including adrenaline injectors.

These include:

  • EpiPen
  • Anapen
  • Jext

They are administered intramuscularly in any way the penetration of the allergen. Usually do shot in the back lateral surface of thigh, avoiding contact with adipose tissue. Familiarization with the user manual will tell the correct administration of the drug. Most often after the introduction of the injector for a few seconds fixed in the position in which a drug was introduced. In a few minutes should be followed by improvement, is otherwise admissible repetition of the dose.

If the victim is unconscious, you must give the body a horizontal position, placing the head to one side. Dentures removed from the mouth. Controlled by the safety output of vomit and tongue.

If no pulse, performed CPR and chest compressions – if there is a skill to properly holding these resuscitation.

Read more: First aid for anaphylactic shock, proper choice of drugs

After rendering the first medical aid General physicians, continuing inpatient treatment. To do this, use thethe same medicines as in the treatment of allergies. After 2-3 days, at the latest after 10 days, the patient is discharged.

In order to save his life, you need to remember the importance of the prevention of anaphylaxis. Avoid substances containing allergens, places of possible occurrence of insects or the growth of plants that cause allergic reactions. You should always be a set of adrenaline injectors and the passport of allergies.