Anaphylaxis Center - East Brunswick, NJ
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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 East Brunswick
Nearby East Brunswick Hospitals * Raritan Bay Medical Center Old Bridge Division  Bristol-Myers Squibb Children's Hospital  Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital  Saint Peter's University Hospital  University Behavioral Healthcare  Care One at Raritan Bay  Raritan Bay Medical Center Perth Amboy Division  JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute  JFK Medical Center  Bayshore Community Hospital  Woodbridge Development Center  Staten Island University Hospital South Site  Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center  CentraState Medical Center  Princeton House Behavioral Health  Kindred Hospital New Jersey Rahway  Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Rahway  Somerset Medical Center  University Medical Center at Princeton  Merwick Rehabilitation Hospital  Carrier Clinic  Runnells Specialized Hospital of Union County  Children's Specialized Hospital Mountainside  Riverview Medical Center  Lyons Campus of the VA New Jersey Health Care System  Trinitas Hospital Williamson Campus  HEALTHSOUTH Tinton Falls Rehabilitation Hospital  Trinitas Hospital New Point Campus  Staten Island University Hospital North Site  South Beach Psychiatric Center  Overlook Hospital  St Lawrence Rehabilitation Center  Summit Oaks Hospital  Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Hamilton  Richmond University Medical Center  Bayley Seton Campus  Newark Beth Israel Medical Center  Children's Hospital of New Jersey  Bayonne Medical Center  Capital Health System Fuld Campus  Monmouth Medical Center  Specialty Hospital at Monmouth  Brooklyn Campus of the VA NY Harbor Healthcare System  St Francis Medical Center  Jersey Shore University Medical Center  Saint Barnabas Medical Center  Capital Health System Mercer Campus  St James Hospital of Newark  The University Hospital  East Orange Campus of the VA New Jersey Health Care System  Matheny Medical & Educational Center  East Orange General Hospital  Lutheran Medical Center  Coney Island Hospital  Trenton Psychiatric Hospital  Maimonides Medical Center  Morristown Memorial Hospital  Hunterdon Medical Center  Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation West Orange  Atlantic Rehabilitation Institute  Clara Maass Medical Center West Hudson  New York Community Hospital  Jersey City Medical Center  Beth Israel Medical Center Kings Highway Division  Kimball Medical Center  Clara Maass Medical Center  New York Methodist Hospital  Ocean Medical Center  Long Island College Hospital  Christ Hospital  Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital  New York Downtown Hospital  The Brooklyn Hospital Center  Kings County Hospital Center  SUNY Downstate Medical Center University Hospital of Brooklyn 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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