Anaphylaxis Center - Lake Forest, 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 Lake Forest
Nearby Lake Forest Hospitals * Saddleback Memorial Medical Center Laguna Hills  Kaiser Permanente Orange County Irvine Medical Center  Children's Hospital of Orange County at Mission  Mission Hospital  Mission Hospital Laguna Beach  Tustin Hospital & Medical Center  HEALTHSOUTH Tustin Rehabilitation Hospital  Western Medical Center Santa Ana  Coastal Communities Hospital  College Hospital Costa Mesa  Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian  Saddleback Memorial Medical Center San Clemente  Chapman Medical Center  HealthBridge Children's Rehabilitation Hospital  Kindred Hospital Santa Ana  Children's Hospital Orange County  St Joseph Hospital  Fountain Valley Regional Hospital & Medical Center  Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center  University Of California Irvine Medical Center  Garden Grove Hospital & Medical Center  Huntington Beach Hospital  Kaiser Permanente Anaheim Medical Center  Western Medical Center Anaheim  Corona Regional Medical Center Rehabilitation  Kindred Hospital Westminster  Corona Regional Medical Center  Placentia-Linda Hospital  Anaheim Regional Medical Center  West Anaheim Medical Center  Anaheim General Hospital  St Jude Medical Center  Kindred Hospital Brea  Los Alamitos Medical Center  La Palma Intercommunity Hospital  Kaiser Permanente Riverside Medical Center  Tri-City Regional Medical Center  VA Long Beach Healthcare System  Parkview Community Hospital Medical Center  Kindred Hospital La Mirada  Community Hospital of Long Beach  Chino Valley Medical Center  Inland Valley Medical Center  Whittier Hospital Medical Center  Norwalk Community Hospital  College Hospital Cerritos  Metropolitan State Hospital  St Mary Medical Center  Bellflower Medical Center  Coast Plaza Doctors Hospital  Lakewood Regional Medical Center  Long Beach Memorial Medical Center  Miller Children's Hospital  Pacific Hospital of Long Beach  Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital  Kindred Hospital Ontario  Riverside Community Hospital  Kaiser Permanente Downey Medical Center  Rancho Springs Medical Center  Montclair Hospital Medical Center  Promise Hospital of East Los Angeles Suburban Medical Center Campus  Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center  Vista Hospital of Riverside  Downey Regional Medical Center  Fallbrook Hospital  Menifee Valley Medical Center  Casa Colina Centers for Rehabilitation  Citrus Valley Medical Center Queen of the Valley Campus  Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center  San Antonio Community Hospital  San Dimas Community Hospital  Doctor's Hospital West Covina  Kindred Hospital San Gabriel Valley  Vista Specialty Hospital of San Gabriel Valley  Citrus Valley Medical Center Inter Community 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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