Anaphylaxis Center - Los Angeles, 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 Los Angeles
Nearby Los Angeles Hospitals * Pacific Alliance Medical Center  Kaiser Mental Health Center  Good Samaritan Hospital  Barlow Respiratory Hospital  California Hospital Medical Center  White Memorial Medical Center  St Vincent Medical Center  Promise Hospital of East Los Angeles  Gateways Hospital & Mental Health Center  LAC + USC Medical Center  LAC + USC Medical Center Women's & Children's Hospital  Orthopaedic Medical Center  USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center  Shriners Hospitals for Children Los Angeles  USC University Hospital  Temple Community Hospital  Los Angeles Metropolitan Medical Center  East Los Angeles Doctors Hospital  Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center  Childrens Hospital Los Angeles  Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center  Los Angeles Community Hospital  Community Hospital of Huntington Park  Glendale Memorial Hospital & Health Center  VA Greater Los Angeles HealthCare System  Hollywood Community Hospital  Monterey Park Hospital  Alhambra Hospital Medical Center  Olympia Medical Center  Glendale Adventist Medical Center  Miracle Mile Medical Center  Garfield Medical Center  Kaiser Permanente West Los Angeles Medical Center  Cedars-Sinai Medical Center  Huntington Hospital  City of Angels Medical Center Ingleside Campus  Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center  Beverly Hospital  San Gabriel Valley Medical Center  Kindred Hospital Los Angeles  St Francis Medical Center  Brotman Medical Center  Martin Luther King Jr MAC Service Center  Centinela Freeman Regional Medical Center Centinela Campus  Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center  BHC Alhambra Hospital  Downey Regional Medical Center  Verdugo Hills Hospital  Aurora Las Encinas Hospital  Kaiser Permanente Downey Medical Center  UCLA Neuropsychiatric Hospital  Memorial Hospital of Gardena  Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center  Greater El Monte Community Hospital  Los Angeles Metropolitan Medical Center Hawthorne Campus  Vista Hospital of South Bay  Marina Del Rey Hospital  Promise Hospital of East Los Angeles Suburban Medical Center Campus  Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital  Coast Plaza Doctors Hospital  Methodist Hospital  Saint John's Health Center  Metropolitan State Hospital  Sherman Oaks Hospital  Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center  Bellflower Medical Center  College Hospital Cerritos  Norwalk Community Hospital  Hollywood Community Hospital of Van Nuys  Lakewood Regional Medical Center  Kaiser Permanente Medical Center Baldwin Park  Encino Hospital Medical Center  LAC Harbor UCLA Medical Center  Whittier Hospital Medical Center  Kaiser Permanente Panorama City 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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Shock (Medical)
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