Anaphylaxis Center - St. Louis, MO
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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 St. Louis
Nearby St. Louis Hospitals * SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center  St Louis VA Medical Center John Cochran Division  Saint Louis University Hospital  The Rehabilitation Institute of St Louis  St Louis Children's Hospital  Barnes-Jewish Hospital South Campus  Barnes-Jewish Hospital North Campus  Kenneth Hall Regional Hospital  Kindred Hospital St Louis  St Alexius Hospital Broadway Campus  St Louis Psychiatric Rehabilitation Center  Metropolitan St Louis Psychiatric Center  Forest Park Community Hospital  Select Specialty Hospital St Louis  SSM Rehab  SSM St Mary's Health Center  Gateway Regional Medical Center  Hawthorn Children's Psychiatric Hospital  Touchette Regional Hospital  St Louis VA Medical Center Jefferson Barracks  Shriners Hospital for Children  Christian Hospital NE  Memorial Hospital Belleville  Kindred Hospital St Anthony's  St Anthony's Medical Center  Northwest HealthCare  Ranken Jordan Pediatric Rehabilitation  Missouri Baptist Medical Center  St John's Mercy Medical Center  Des Peres Hospital  Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital  St Elizabeth's Hospital Belleville  SSM DePaul Health Center  Dubuis Hospital of St Louis  St Luke's Urgent Care Center in Fenton  SSM St Clare Health Center  St Luke's Hospital  Anderson Hospital  St John's Mercy Rehabilitation Hospital  SSM St Joseph Health Center  St Clare's Hospital  Alton Memorial Hospital  St Anthony's Health Center  St Luke's Urgent Care Center on Clarkson Road  Barnes-Jewish St Peter's Hospital  St John's Urgent Care Center Saint Peters  Center Pointe Hospital  St Luke's Urgent Care Center in St Charles  St John's Mercy Urgent Care Center  Jefferson Regional Medical Center  Progress West HealthCare Center  St Luke's Urgent Care Center at WingHaven  St Joseph's Hospital of Highland  Red Bud Regional Hospital  SSM St Joseph Hospital West  Jersey Community Hospital 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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Insect Sting Allergies
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Allergic Cascade
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