Anaphylaxis (cont.)
What happens after the symptoms begin?
There are three possible outcomes:
- The signs and symptoms may be mild and fade spontaneously or be quickly ended by administering emergency medication. In this outcome, the symptoms do not subsequently recur from this particular exposure.
- After initial improvement, the symptoms may recur
within
4 to 12 hours (late phase reaction) and require additional
treatment and close observation. Recent evidence suggests
that a late phase reaction occurs in fewer than 10% of
cases.
- Lastly, the reaction may be persistent and more severe,
thus requiring intensive medical treatment and
hospitalization. This may occur up to 20% of the time with
certain exposures.
Epinephrine, which is also known as "adrenaline," is a drug that acts immediately to cause the blood vessels to contract, thereby preventing fluid leakage. It is one of the medications frequently used to treat anaphylaxis. Epinephrine also helps relax the bronchial tubes, thus relieving breathing difficulty. It also lessens stomach cramps and stops itching and hives. More importantly, epinephrine helps prevent the release of more mediators of the allergic reaction. In addition to epinephrine, other medications and IV fluids and oxygen will probably be administered as well. The choice of interventions will depend on the severity of the reaction the patient experiences.
Are there any disorders that appear similar to anaphylaxis?
Several disorders may appear similar to anaphylaxis. Fainting (vaso-vagal reaction) is the reaction that is most likely to be confused with anaphylaxis. The key differences are that in a fainting episode, the affected person has a slow pulse, cool and pale skin, and no hives or difficulty breathing. Other conditions, such as heart attacks, blood clots to the lungs, septic shock, and panic attacks can also be confused with anaphylaxis.
Next: How is anaphylaxis diagnosed? »
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