What is anaphylactic shock?

Anaphylactic shock is a severe allergic reaction that occurs within minutes of exposure to an allergy-causing substance, called an allergen. Examples of substances that can cause this severe allergic reaction are penicillin or a bee sting.

How does it occur?

After contact with an allergen, your blood vessels leak fluid into the area around them. As a result, your blood pressure may drop suddenly. Because there is less blood flow, less oxygen reaches your brain and other vital organs. Since these organs cannot function properly, your body goes into shock. In addition, your body responds to the allergen by releasing chemicals such as histamines that cause swelling of the skin, a red rash, and severe itching.

Complications of anaphylactic shock can include brain damage, kidney failure, and death.

Substances that can cause anaphylactic shock include:

• food and food additives

• insect stings and bites

• agents used in immunotherapy, which is the controlled, gradual exposure to a substance your body is allergic to in an effort to desensitize you to it

• drugs such as penicillin

• drugs used as local anesthetics, such as benzocaine and lidocaine

• vaccines such as antitetanus serum

• in rare cases, pollens, dust, other substances in the air, or pet dander.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of anaphylactic shock include:

• feeling faint

• rapid pulse

• difficulty breathing, including wheezing

• nausea and vomiting

• stomach pain

• swelling of lips, tongue, or throat (including the soft palate and uvula, the soft structure hanging from the palate)

• itchy, blotchy, raised rash called hives

• pale, cool, damp skin

• drowsiness, confusion, or loss of consciousness

• heart may stop beating.

How is it diagnosed?

If you are conscious, the doctor will ask you about contact with substances you may be allergic to. Then your doctor will examine you for symptoms of shock by checking your:

• blood pressure

• pulse and heart rate

• breathing

• skin condition and color

• alertness and mental status.

Your doctor may recommend tests to determine the cause of your condition and its seriousness.

How is it treated?

Treating yourself:

If you have had a previous severe allergic reaction, carry with you a kit to treat anaphylactic shock and be prepared to give yourself an injection from the kit. Then get medical help immediately or have someone get it for you. Until help arrives, lie down and raise your legs above the level of your chest to increase the blood flow to your heart and brain.

Treating someone in severe shock:

Anaphylactic shock requires emergency medical attention. If you suspect someone is in shock, call 911 and ask for paramedics and an ambulance.

Check to see if the person has stopped breathing or if his or her heart has stopped beating. If so, give cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) until the person is breathing and has a pulse or until paramedics arrive.

Next, make sure the person is lying down comfortably. If the person has a clear airway (has nothing in his or her mouth or throat), raise the person's legs above the level of his or her chest to increase blood flow to the heart and brain.

Look for a medical card or Medic Alert bracelet, which has information about allergies.

When a doctor or paramedic arrives, he or she may give the person an injection of epinephrine (adrenaline) right away after verifying anaphylaxis or a less severe allergy reaction. In addition, the doctor may:

• give the person drugs such as antihistamines or cortisone-like drugs, possibly into the veins

• give fluids through the veins to increase fluid volume inside the blood vessels

• hospitalize the person to be sure that his or her blood pressure and heartbeat are restored to proper levels and that the symptoms do not recur.

How long will the effects last?

How long the effects of anaphylactic shock last will depend on how quickly the person receives treatment. The symptoms may last from a few minutes to several hours. Without immediate medical treatment, the result can be death, but early treatment can help prevent serious complications.

How can I take care of myself?

Do not delay seeking help.

If you have had a previous severe allergic reaction, you may want to:

• Ask your doctor to prescribe several kits to treat shock and review the instructions with you. Check the expiration date on the kits. Review the instructions until you are familiar with them. Carry one kit with you in your briefcase, sports bag, or handbag, and keep one at home.

• Be prepared to give yourself an injection in case of an emergency. Think of this injection as something you can do to keep yourself alive long enough to reach medical attention.

• Wear a Medic Alert bracelet that warns of your allergy and tells what to do in case of an emergency. Inform your friends and co-workers of these measures.

• Avoid foods, chemicals, drugs, and other substances that have caused allergic reactions. For example, if shrimp causes an allergic reaction, don't eat shrimp or shrimp sauce.

• Consider having immunotherapy, in which your immune system is gradually exposed to the toxic substance to make it less harmful to you. Immunotherapy is very effective for insect allergies but not for food or drug allergies.

• Always tell your doctor and dentist about any drug allergies you have before they prescribe medication. Ask them to prescribe another drug as soon as possible and ask for a list of related drugs. Also tell your pharmacist about any drug allergies.

• Check labels before taking over-the-counter medicines or eating foods if you have drug or food allergies.

How can I help prevent anaphylactic shock?

Learn what substance causes your reaction and avoid that substance. Ask your doctor about desensitization treatments, which can help in some cases.