About Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis Overview
Anaphylaxis (also known as anaphylactic shock) is an allergic condition that can be severe and potentially life threatening. Anaphylaxis is your body's immune system reacting badly to a substance (an allergen), such as food. The whole body can be affected, usually within minutes of contact with a substance, though the reaction can occur hours later
Anaphylaxis can cause the following symptoms in the body
- Skin: Itching, flushing, hives (urticaria), rash or swelling (angioedema)
- Eyes: Itching, tearing, redness, or swelling around the eyes
- Nose and mouth: Sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion, swelling of the tongue, or a metallic taste
- Lungs and throat: Difficulty breathing, coughing, chest tightness, wheezing or other sounds of laboured breathing, increased mucus production, throat swelling or itching, hoarseness, change in voice, or a sensation of choking
- Heart and circulation: Dizziness, weakness, fainting, rapid, slow, or irregular heart rate, or low blood pressure
- Digestive system: Nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, or diarrhoea
- Nervous system: Anxiety, confusion.
- Feeling of impending doom A more severe form of anaphylaxis can result in sudden collapse without any other warning symptoms, such as hives or flushing. This form of anaphylaxis occurs most commonly after a person is given a medication into a vein or is stung by an insect. A combination of the symptoms listed above normally occur during anaphylaxis. Each symptom on its own does not constitute anaphylaxis.