Anaphylaxis Center - Sun City West, AZ
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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 Sun City West
Nearby Sun City West Hospitals * Banner Del E Webb Medical Center  Banner Boswell Medical Center  Arrowhead Hospital  HEALTHSOUTH Valley of the Sun Rehabilitation Hospital  Banner Thunderbird Medical Center  West Valley Hospital  Banner Estrella Medical Center  John C Lincoln Hospital Deer Valley  Maryvale Hospital Medical Center  Surgical Specialty Hospital of Arizona  Phoenix Baptist Hospital  John C Lincoln Hospital North Mountain  Kindred Hospital Phoenix  Select Specialty Hospital Phoenix  St Joseph's Hospital & Medical Center  Carl T Hayden VA Medical Center  Paradise Valley Hospital  Phoenix Indian Medical Center  Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center  Banner Good Samaritan Rehabilitation  Select Specialty Hospital Phoenix Downtown  Arizona Heart Hospital  Phoenix Children's Hospital  Phoenix Memorial Health Care Center  Promise Hospital of Phoenix  Los Ninos Hospital  Youth Development Institute  Mayo Clinic Hospital  St Luke's Behavioral Health Center  St Luke's Medical Center  Maricopa Medical Center  Arizona State Hospital  Scottsdale Healthcare Thompson Peak  Scottsdale Healthcare Shea  Kindred Hospital Scottsdale  Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn  Select Specialty Hospital Scottsdale  Banner Behavioral Health Hospital  HEALTHSOUTH Scottsdale Rehabilitation Hospital  Tempe St Luke's Hospital  Wickenburg Community Hospital  Desert Vista Hospital  Banner Desert Medical Center  Arizona Orthopedic Surgical 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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