Anaphylaxis 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.
Shock is a life-threatening medical condition and is a medical
emergency. If shock is suspected call 911 or get to an emergency department
immediately.
The main symptom of shock is low blood pressure. Other symptoms include
rapid, shallow breathing; cold, clammy skin; rapid, weak pulse; dizziness,
fainting, or weakness.
There are several types of shock: septic shock caused by bacteria,
anaphylactic shock caused by hypersensitivity or allergic reaction,
cardiogenic shock from heart damage, hypovolemic shock from blood or fluid
loss, and neurogenic shock from spinal cord trauma.
Treatment for shock depends on the cause. Tests will determine the
cause and severity. Usually IV fluids are administered in addition to
medications that raise blood pressure.
Septic shock is treated with antibiotics and fluids.
Anaphylactic shock is treated with
diphenhydramine
(Benad...
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Anxiety is a feeling of apprehension and fear characterized by physical symptoms. Anxiety disorders are serious medical illnesses that affect approximately 19 million American adults.
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allergic reaction. The allergy may be to food or medications, but usually the
cause of the allergy (the allergen) is unknown.
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The majority of spiders in the United States are harmless. Two exceptions include the black widow spider and the brown recluse spider. Symptoms of a harmless spider bite generally involve redness, irritation, and pain. alized symptoms of bites from black widow and brown recluse spiders may include: nausea and vomiting, fever, headache, abdominal pain, joint pain, and more. In general, a brown recluse spider bite or black widow spider bite may require medical attention. The information includes pictures of the brown recluse and black widow spiders for identification.
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Mercury is contained in some of the fish we eat, whether caught in local
lakes and streams or bought in a grocery store. Mercury is also contained in
some of the products we use, which may be found in your home, at the dentist,
and at schools. This article provides links to information about sources of mercury
exposure, potential health effects, fish that may contain mercury, consumer
products that contain mercury, and ways to reduce your exposure to mercury.
General information about mercury and mercury
exposure
Forms of mercury. Mercury is a naturally occurring
element that is found in air, water and soil. It exists in several forms:
elemental or metallic mercury,
inorganic mercury compounds, and
organic mercury compounds.
Sources of mercury. Mercury is an element in the earth's crust. Humans cannot
create or destroy mercury. Pu...
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