ANAPHYLAXIS

Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction. It causes your body’s immune system to release chemicals that can cause your body to go into a shock. As a result, your airways narrow, blocking your breathing. Your blood pressure suddenly drops.

Anaphylaxis is an extreme life-threatening reaction that occurs within a minute after eating an allergy-causing food such as:

• Peanuts
• Tree nuts
• Dairy products
• Fish and eggs

The symptoms of the allergic reaction can be different to every person. Not all allergic reaction develops into anaphylaxis.

CAUSES

The following food triggers you to a food allergy:

In adults:

• Shellfish (such as crab, lobster, shrimp)
• Fish
• Peanuts
• Tree nuts (such as pecans & walnuts)

In children:

• Eggs
• Tree nuts
• Peanuts
• Dairy products
• Soy & wheat

SYMPTOMS

The following are mild symptoms a person can experience after eating an allergy-causing food:

• Itching in the mouth
• Eczema or Hives
• Swelling of the lips, tongue and different parts of the body
• Trouble in breathing
• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhea
• Nausea & vomiting
• Dizziness, fainting

Anaphylaxis symptom includes:

• Tightening of airways
• Swollen throat, making it hard for you to breathe
• Rapid pulse
• Shock and having a drop in blood pressure
• Loss of consciousness

RISK FACTORS

These are the factors that can increase your risk from this type of allergic reaction:

• Having a family history of this condition
• Age
• Having asthma
• Other allergies

The following are the factor that may increase your chances of having an anaphylactic reaction:

• A history of asthma
• A delay use of epinephrine to treat food allergy symptoms
• Not having other skin symptoms or hives

PREVENTION

Preventive measures to avoid the symptoms of this condition are:

• Wearing of medical alert bracelet or necklace
• Carrying an auto-injector device or (Epinephrine)
• Read the labels of food and drinks
• Keep your child from playing in dead leaves
• Cooling your home with air-conditioning

DIAGNOSIS

It takes a physician to perform tests such as:

• Asking about the symptoms
• Conduct a physical test
• Conducting a skin and blood test
• Performing an Elimination diet
• An oral food challenge

TREATMENT

There two ways of treating food allergy:

Antihistamine – is a drug used to treat moderate reaction of allergy. Common examples of this drug are:

• Cetirizine
• Allegra
• Benadryl
• Clarinex
• Claritin
• Xytal
• Palgic

Adrenaline – is a drug used to treat severe reaction of allergy.

Epinephrine is an injection used to anaphylaxis. It contains a solution and is injected into the skin at the first sign of the allergy.