We've all heard stories of people who have died suddenly from a severe allergic reaction,
and these stories are frightening. Fortunately, events like this are very rare, with less
than 1500 deaths from all age groups and all types of allergies in the United States. Statistically
this is a very small number compared to approximate 50 million Americans that suffer from some
form of allergy.
Unfortunately, recent studies show that allergies of all kinds are increasing in developed countries.
Nobody knows for sure why, but one prominent theory is that we’ve developed too clean
of a lifestyle. With the constant use of anti-bacterial soap, hand sanitizers and air-tight modern
homes our body's immune systems are not developing and fighting germs in the same way as they
did in the past. This can lead to over-reactive immune systems. Finding a balance between
healthy living and clean living is a must.
Other theories include over-use of antibiotics, excessive immunizations, highly processed
foods, and environmental pollutants that have all led to the breakdown and confusion of
the body's natural immune systems.
Whatever the cause, the reality is that more people are developing allergies than ever
before and we need to be prepared to handle emergencies from allergic reactions.
Food and insect allergies are the most common causes of severe reactions that happen outside
of the hospital, with food allergies being the most prevalent. Children tend to be the
most affected. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention between 1997
and 2007, in the United States, the number of children that have food allergies rose
18 percent. Fortunately, most children outgrow food allergies by adulthood. Although, peanut
allergies tend to be lifelong.
You might be thinking, what causes an allergy to develop? The immune system normally defends
the body against things that can be dangerous to your health, such as viruses and bacteria.
A healthy immune system keeps a person from getting sick when harmful germs find their
way into the body by attacking and destroying the germs.
An allergy results when the immune system mistakenly targets and overreacts by attacking
a normally harmless substance that has been eaten, inhaled, injected, or contacted the
skin. This substance that causes an allergy is called an allergen.
An allergen may have been introduced to the body many times before with no trouble, but
at some point, for some reason, the body flags it as an invader and triggers the immune system
to attack the allergen. The body will remember that specific allergen by producing antibodies
that will be ready to go into action to attack if the allergen enters the body in the future.
This is the reason that an allergic reaction is often more severe the second or third time
it happens.
When the immune system attacks an allergen, high quantities of histamine and other chemicals
are released into surrounding tissues. Depending on the part of the body involved, the histamine
and chemicals cause itching, hives, rash, sneezing, wheezing, swelling, runny nose,
nausea, etc...
A serious allergic reaction that can be life-threatening is called anaphylaxis. This is a severe, sudden
reaction that affects many parts of the body all at once. It typically begins within minutes
after an allergen is introduced to the body.
This severe allergic reaction can cause the blood vessels all over the body to dilate
(in other words, open all the way up) and cause Anaphylactic Shock. The full opening
up of the blood vessels causes a sudden drop in blood pressure, and the brain and other
vital organs become oxygen-starved. Anaphylactic shock will cause death if not treated. The
treatment is epinephrine, which helps constrict the blood vessels and open up the airways.
The most common things that cause anaphylaxis are:
Foods such as peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, eggs and milk
Biting or stinging insects such as bees Latex
Medications
Food is generally the most common cause of anaphylaxis, with peanuts being the most common
cause of fast, severe and life-threatening reactions. Because severe nut allergies tend
to affect children, a lot of fear is associated with nut allergies. It has become a very popular
and emotional topic. This is the reason many schools, airlines, food manufacturers and
other places have become nut-free zones.
More effective than banning nuts completely, there are precautions public facilities can
and should practice, such as having nut free tables at lunch for children to eat. Most
importantly, children need to be taught what foods to avoid. Children with allergies need
to carry an epipen. Schools, daycares, camps, and other places that typically serve food
to children should have epipens for emergencies.
Preventing an emergency is the best. But, if an emergency happens, you need to know
how to recognize it and be prepared to handle it.
The following signs and symptoms would indicate a person is going into anaphylactic shock:
Trouble breathing Wheezing
Tightness of the throat Swelling of the face, eyes, lips, tongue
Hives Itching, flushed or pale skin
Rapid heart beat Low blood pressure
Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea Dizziness, fainting or unconsciousness
Children may describe their symptoms in the following way:
It feels like something is poking my tongue My tongue is tingling
My mouth itches My tongue feels like there is hair on it
My mouth feels funny There's something stuck in my throat
My lips feel tight My body feels weird all over
If you recognize any of the signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis, don't wait for signs and symptoms
to get worse. Call 911 immediately. If it is available, assist with or administer
autoinjectable epinephrine, such as an epipen. Keep the person calm while waiting for the
ambulance Let the person sit in the position that is
easiest to breath. Typically, this is sitting up and leaning forward.
If the person feels faint or is not fully conscious, lie the person down, elevate the
legs and keep the person warm. Talk to the person to reassure them
Keep the person's airway open, monitor the breathing and be prepared to start CPR if
the person stops breathing and becomes unresponsive.