Anaphylaxis Center - Houston, TX
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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 Houston
Nearby Houston Hospitals * Dubuis Hospital of Houston  St Joseph Medical Center  Triumph Hospital Houston Central  Riverside General Hospital  HEALTHSOUTH Hospital for Specialized Surgery  Park Plaza Hospital and Medical Center  Plaza Specialty Hospital  University of Texas Harris County Psychiatric Center  Harris Quentin Mease Community Hospital  Memorial Hermann Hospital  Ben Taub General Hospital  Select Specialty Hospital Houston Heights  Kindred Hospital Houston  Select Specialty Hospital Houston Medical Center  Memorial Herman The Institute for Rehabilitation & Research  The Methodist Hospital  Michael E DeBakey VA Medical Center  Texas Children's Hospital  St Luke's Episcopal Hospital  University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center  Shriners Hospitals for Children  Texas Orthopedic Hospital  University General Hospital  The Woman's Hospital of Texas  IntraCare Medical Center Hospital  Lyndon B Johnson General Hospital  Memorial Hermann Northwest Hospital  Harris County Hospital District  Texas Specialty Hospital  Doctors Hospital of Tidwell  Doctors Hospital Parkway  Cornerstone Hospital of Houston at Bellaire  Renaissance Hospital Houston  Triumph Hospital North Houston  Twelve Oaks Medical Center River Oaks Campus  West Oaks Hospital  Spring Branch Medical Center  Select Specialty Hospital Houston West  Riveroaks Medical Center Sharpstown Campus  Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital  Memorial Hermann Memorial City Hospital  Kindred Hospital Bay Area  East Houston Regional Medical Center  Triumph Hospital Town & Country  Healthbridge Children's Hospital of Houston  Bayshore Medical Center  Triumph Hospital East Houston  Vista Medical Center Hospital of America  West Houston Medical Center  Memorial Hermann Southeast Hospital  HEALTHSOUTH Humble Rehabilitation Hospital  Memorial Hermann Northeast  Cypress Fairbanks Medical Center Hospital  Houston Northwest Medical Center  Methodist Willowbrook Hospital  TOPS Surgical Specialty Hospital  Kindred Hospital Northwest  IntraCare North Hospital  Cypress Creek Hospital  Triumph Hospital Northwest  HEALTHSOUTH Hospital of Houston  North Cypress Medical Center  Triumph Hospital Southwest  CHRISTUS St Catherine Hospital  Methodist Sugar Land Hospital  Triumph Hospital Clear Lake  Clear Lake Regional Medical Center  Clear Lake Rehabilitation Hospital  Cornerstone Hospital of Houston at Clearlake  Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital  Kingwood Medical Center  CHRISTUS St John Hospital  San Jacinto Methodist Hospital Garth Rd  Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital  San Jacinto Methodist Hospital Alexander Campus 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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Shock (Medical)
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Insect Sting Allergies
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Allergic Cascade
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