Anaphylaxis Center - Baldwin Park, CA
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AnaphylaxisRead the Anaphylaxis article » Introduction to anaphylaxisAnaphylaxis refers to a rapidly developing and serious allergic reaction that affects a number of different areas of the body at one time. Severe anaphylactic reactions can be fatal. Most people experience allergy symptoms only as a minor annoyance. However, a small number of people are susceptible to a reaction that can lead to shock or even death. Anaphylaxis is often triggered by substances that are injected or ingested and thereby gain access into the blood stream. An explosive reaction involving the skin, lungs, nose, throat, and gastrointestinal tract can then result. Although severe cases of anaphylaxis can occur within seconds or minutes of exposure and be fatal if untreated, many reactions are milder and can be ended with prompt medical therapy. What does anaphylaxis mean?To fully understand this term, we need to go back almost 100 years. The story begins on a cruise aboard Prince Albert I of Monaco's yacht. The Prince had invited two Parisian scientists to perform studies on the toxin produced by the tentacles of a local jellyfish, the Portuguese Man of War. Charles Richet and Paul Portier were able to isolate the toxin and tried to vaccinate dogs in the hope of obtaining protection, or "prophylaxis," against the toxin. They were horrified to find that subsequent very small doses of the toxin unexpectedly resulted in a new dramatic illness that involved the rapid onset of breathing difficulty and resulted in death within 30 minutes. Richet and Portier termed this "anaphylaxis" or "against protection." They rightly concluded that the immune system first becomes sensitized to the allergen over several weeks and upon re-exposure to the same allergen may result in a severe reaction. An allergen is a substance that is foreign to the body and can cause an allergic reaction in certain people. All... Recommended Reading Related to AnaphylaxisFirst AidFirst aid is the assistance given to an injured or sick person in need of urgent medical assistance. First aid applies to a broad range of medical situations and consists both of specific knowledge and skills (for example, what to do for each type of injury or illness) and the ability to assess a situation and make appropriate decisions (such as when to call for emergency medical assistance). Preparedness is a key element of first aid. While every home, auto, and boat should be equipped with a basic emergency kit that includes first aid supplies and a first aid manual, special circumstances may necessitate more advanced or specific degrees of preparation for an emergency. For example, residents of certain geographic areas where natural disasters (such as hurricanes, earthquakes, tornados, floods, landslides, or tsunamis) may occur should prepare for emergencies by assembling disaster preparedness kits such as earthquake kits, ... Other Related Anaphylaxis ArticlesEmergency Contact for Baldwin Park
Nearby Baldwin Park Hospitals * Doctor's Hospital West Covina  Vista Specialty Hospital of San Gabriel Valley  Citrus Valley Medical Center Queen of the Valley Campus  Kaiser Permanente Medical Center Baldwin Park  Kindred Hospital San Gabriel Valley  City of Hope National Medical Center  Citrus Valley Medical Center Inter Community Campus  Greater El Monte Community Hospital  Aurora Charter Oak Hospital  Methodist Hospital  Foothill Presbyterian Hospital  East Valley Hospital Medical Center  BHC Alhambra Hospital  San Dimas Community Hospital  Aurora Las Encinas Hospital  San Gabriel Valley Medical Center  City of Angels Medical Center Ingleside Campus  Beverly Hospital  Garfield Medical Center  Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital  Whittier Hospital Medical Center  Monterey Park Hospital  Alhambra Hospital Medical Center  Kindred Hospital Brea  Huntington Hospital  Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center  Kindred Hospital La Mirada  Casa Colina Centers for Rehabilitation  Metropolitan State Hospital  Norwalk Community Hospital  St Jude Medical Center  East Los Angeles Doctors Hospital  Los Angeles Community Hospital  USC University Hospital  USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center  Coast Plaza Doctors Hospital  Downey Regional Medical Center  LAC + USC Medical Center  LAC + USC Medical Center Women's & Children's Hospital  Promise Hospital of East Los Angeles  White Memorial Medical Center  Kaiser Permanente Downey Medical Center  Montclair Hospital Medical Center  Placentia-Linda Hospital  Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center  Pacific Alliance Medical Center  College Hospital Cerritos  Glendale Adventist Medical Center  Chino Valley Medical Center  Kaiser Mental Health Center  Anaheim Regional Medical Center  Barlow Respiratory Hospital  Community Hospital of Huntington Park  Verdugo Hills Hospital  Gateways Hospital & Mental Health Center  La Palma Intercommunity Hospital  Glendale Memorial Hospital & Health Center  Bellflower Medical Center  Good Samaritan Hospital  St Francis Medical Center  California Hospital Medical Center  Kaiser Permanente Anaheim Medical Center  Promise Hospital of East Los Angeles Suburban Medical Center Campus  St Vincent Medical Center  Kindred Hospital Ontario  West Anaheim Medical Center  Orthopaedic Medical Center  San Antonio Community Hospital  Temple Community Hospital  Western Medical Center Anaheim  Anaheim General Hospital  Shriners Hospitals for Children Los Angeles  Tri-City Regional Medical Center  Childrens Hospital Los Angeles  Lakewood Regional Medical Center Featured Articles*Provider Directory Terms of Use: The WebMD 'Provider Directory' is provided by WebMD for use by the general public as a quick reference of information about Providers. The Provider Directory is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications, or abilities of any Provider contained therein. Inclusion in the Provider Directory does not imply recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Directory imply WebMD disapproval. |
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