Anaphylaxis Center - Pawtucket, RI
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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 Pawtucket
Nearby Pawtucket Hospitals * Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island  The Miriam Hospital  Butler Hospital  Arbour-Fuller Hospital  Providence VA Medical Center  Roger Williams Medical Center  Our Lady of Fatima Hospital  Hasbro Children's Hospital  Rhode Island Hospital  Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island  Southern New England Rehabilitation Center  St Joseph Health Services  Bradley Hospital  Sturdy Memorial Hospital  Rehabilitation Hospital of Rhode Island  Eleanor Slater Hospital Pastore Center  Landmark Medical Center  Kent Hospital  Taunton State Hospital  Morton Hospital & Medical Center  Charlton Memorial Hospital  Saint Anne's Hospital  Milford Regional Medical Center  Eleanor Slater Hospital Zambarano Unit  Boston VA Healthcare System Brockton  Kindred Specialty Hospital Stoughton  Caritas Good Samaritan Medical Center  Caritas Norwood Hospital  New England Sinai Hospital & Rehabilitation Center  Westwood Lodge Hospital  Massachusetts Hospital School  New Bedford Rehabilitation Hospital  Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital  Hubbard Regional Hospital  Newport Hospital  Day Kimball Hospital  Kindred Specialty Hospital Braintree  Kindred Specialty Hospital Natick  MetroWest Medical Center Leonard Morse Hospital  MetroWest Medical Center Framingham Union Hospital  Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital Needham  St Luke's Hospital  Braintree Rehabilitation Hospital  Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital Westborough  VA Boston Healthcare System West Roxbury Campus  Milton Hospital  South Shore Hospital  Bournewood Hospital  South County Hospital  Westborough State Hospital  Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for the Aged  Quincy Medical Center  Faulkner Hospital  Caritas Carney Hospital  Newton Wellesley Hospital  Massachusetts Mental Health Center  Lemuel Shattuck Hospital  Arbour Hospital  UMass Memorial Medical Center University Campus  Worcester State Hospital  Radius Specialty Hospital Boston  UMass Memorial Marlborough Hospital  VA Boston Healthcare System Jamaica Plain Campus  St Vincent Hospital at Worcester Medical Center  New England Baptist Hospital  UMass Memorial Medical Center Memorial Campus  Brigham & Women's Hospital  Adcare Hospital of Worcester  Caritas St Elizabeth's Medical Center  Dana Farber Cancer Institute  Kindred Hospital Boston  Children's Hospital Boston  Franciscan Hospital for Children  Beth Israel Deaconess 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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