posted February 06, 2008 10:06 PM         

Anaphylaxis is a severe, sometimes life-threatening, allergic reaction that occurs within minutes of exposure an allergy-causing substance (allergen). Anaphylaxis also is called anaphylactic shock.

In a severe allergic reaction, the body's immune system responds to the presence of an allergen by releasing histamine and other body chemicals. These chemicals cause the symptoms of allergies, which are usually mild but annoying, such as the runny nose of hay fever (allergic rhinitis) or the itchy rash of poison ivy. However, in some cases, the symptoms can be much worse and involve the entire body. Anaphylaxis is the most severe allergic reaction. In anaphylaxis, these immune chemicals cause serious skin symptoms, such as hives and swelling, as well as severe breathing problems, such as swelling in the throat, narrowing of the lower airways and wheezing). The chemicals also cause blood vessels to widen dramatically, which leads to a rapid, severe drop in blood pressure (shock). Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening medical emergency.

Although the specific allergen that triggers anaphylaxis may be different for each patient, it often can be traced to one of the following sources:

Foods — Especially eggs, seafood, nuts, grains, milk and peanuts
Drugs — Especially an antibiotic from the penicillin or cephalosporin group
Insect stings — From bees, yellow jackets, paper wasps, hornets or fire ants
Injected anesthetics — Procaine, lidocaine
Dyes — Used in diagnostic X-rays and scans
Industrial chemicals — Latex and rubber products used by health care workers
Allergy shots (immunotherapy)
Symptoms

Symptoms of anaphylaxis usually occur within seconds to minutes of exposure to the allergen and range from mild to very severe. These symptoms include:

Rapid pulse, sweating, dizziness, fainting, unconsciousness
Wheezing, chest tightness, difficulty breathing, coughing
Itchy hives, which may blend together to form larger areas of skin swelling
Swelling of the lips, tongue or eyes
Nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea
Paleness, bluish skin color
Throat swelling, with a feeling of throat tightness, a lump in the throat, hoarseness or obstructed air flow
Diagnosis

The doctor will ask about the patient's allergy history and about his or her exposure to any of the common allergens that trigger anaphylaxis. It is very important for the doctor to know if the patient's symptoms started soon after exposure to an allergen, for instance after eating nuts, after a bee sting or after taking an antibiotic. Because the patient may be too sick to provide this information, a family member, friend, co-worker or school nurse will need to help. People with a history of severe allergic reactions should consider wearing a medical alert identification necklace or bracelet to save valuable time in identifying the problem.

The doctor usually can diagnose anaphylaxis based on the patient's history and the results of a physical examination.

Expected Duration

With early and appropriate treatment, cases of anaphylaxis can improve quickly within a few hours. If a person has already developed the more serious symptoms and dangerous conditions, it may take a few days to fully recover after treatment. If untreated, anaphylaxis can cause death within minutes to hours.

Prevention

You can prevent anaphylaxis by avoiding the allergens that trigger your symptoms. For example, people with food allergies should always check the list of ingredients on food labels, and they should always ask the waiter about food ingredients before eating at a restaurant. If you are allergic to bee stings, you should limit gardening and lawn mowing, and you should not wear perfumes, hair sprays or bright clothing that attracts insects.

People with a history of anaphylaxis should wear a medical identification bracelet or necklace to alert others in the event of another reaction. In addition, ask your doctor if you should carry a pre-loaded syringe of epinephrine (adrenaline), a medicine used to treat anaphylaxis. At the first sign of symptoms, you or a helper (family member, co-worker, school nurse) would inject the pre-loaded epinephrine to treat your allergic reaction until you reach medical attention.

Allergy shots, also called immunotherapy, are used to gradually change the type of reaction that a person has after an insect sting. Allergy shots cause the immune system to react by producing varieties of antibodies and cells that do not cause dangerous symptoms, instead of producing antibodies and chemicals that result in allergy symptoms. On rare occasions, allergy shots also can be used to prevent certain medication allergies. Allergy shots are not used to treat food allergies, because the shots themselves are too likely to cause anaphylaxis. However, oral (swallowed) immunotherapy using extraordinarily diluted samples of allergy triggers is currently being tested as a possible new treatment for food allergy.

Treatment

Some early cases of anaphylaxis can be treated with antihistamines and corticosteroids. More severe cases are life-threatening emergencies and require immediate medical attention. If available, epinephrine should be given at the first sign of a serious reaction to slow the progression of symptoms. Doctors treat anaphylaxis with the medication epinephrine and with intravenous fluids. The person also may need treatment with oxygen, mechanical ventilation (a machine helps the patient breathe temporarily), and antihistamines or corticosteroids given intravenously (into a vein).

When To Call a Professional

Call for emergency assistance immediately whenever anyone has symptoms of anaphylaxis. If you have a history of severe allergic reaction and have not mentioned this to your doctor, schedule an appointment soon. He or she can review your history and help you take the necessary precautions to avoid future problems.

Prognosis

With prompt, appropriate treatment, most patients who have had a severe allergic reaction can recover completely. Unfortunately, even with treatment, some people die of anaphylaxis.

A person who has had anaphylaxis is at risk of future severe reactions if he or she is exposed again to the same allergen.

Additional Info

American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI)
555 East Wells St.
Suite 1100
Milwaukee, WI 53202-3823
Phone: 414-272-6071
Toll-Free: 1-800-822-2762
E-Mail: info@aaaai.org http://www.aaaai.org/

The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network
11781 Lee Jackson Highway
Suite 160
Fairfax, VA 22033-3309
Toll-Free: 1-800-929-4040
Fax: 703-691-2713
E-Mail: faan@foodallergy.org http://www.foodallergy.org/

posted February 06, 2008 10:09 PM         

I'm so sorry you experienced something so awful. Thank God you're alright. You know that eclipse is tonight but sometimes the effects occur before it actually happens. Did it affect your chart in anyway that might indicate a respiratory issue. You probably don't even want to think about it. Thank God you're alright.

posted February 07, 2008 06:58 AM         

I know how is it I had few years ago something similar. I eat some seafood ... the reaction was very slow - it took few hours. All my skin was awfuly itchy starting from the head, and in the begining I didn't understand why. When i saw all my skin getting red and spotty I realize could be from the seafood and I rushed to hospital. Where I had a severe drop in blood pressure. I took me 3-4 day to recover completly I was feeling very bad in strage way! I can't stop thinking since what could happened if I had home that drop of pressure!

posted February 07, 2008 08:55 AM         

I didn't feel scared.

I did give up and kept sinking slowly. It was slow motion.

My lungs didn't burn and I didn't experience any pain.

It felt nice. I could see the sun shining from under water.

posted February 07, 2008 09:56 AM         

My esoteric side says ponder on the situation...I too, almost died late last summer and my little flirt with the black-cloaked one who carries a sickle, made my life a bit more brighter...

Any of us could go at any time...

posted February 07, 2008 05:52 PM         

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Did it affect your chart in anyway that might indicate a respiratory issue

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transit wise, yes interestingly enough. if you want me to send you the chart of the time it happened and the astrological info, id be glad to exchange the info for astrological studies...its pretty amazing. just let me know your email info.

posted February 07, 2008 06:10 PM         

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I have something called angio eudemia (or something??) which means that I once in a while get an allergic reaction to something. The cause is unknown though, a specialist have told me it may be anything from a type of food to temperature differences, dust, changes in light or something completely different. They just don't know.

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PLEASE READ!!!!!
That is what the link I posted is about.
I have this type:
Hereditary Type I (HAE-I)
It is vital you be tested to determine if it is allergen related Angioedema or the more serious C1-inhibitor deficiency version; Hereditary Angioedema, or any other type. Here is a chart of the different types: http://www.haea.org/angiotable.php

The treatment is not the same and one can die with the wrong treatment! Many Emergency physicians mistake it for common anaphylaxis, which is NOT the same thing!

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How is Hereditary Angioedema diagnosed?
Most cases of angioedema are not HAE because swelling attacks are typically caused by something other than C1-inhibitor deficiency, usually an allergic reaction. Laboratory analysis of blood samples or genetic testing is required to establish the HAE diagnosis. There are two specific blood tests that confirm HAE.

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What is Hereditary Angioedema?
Hereditary Angioedema (HAE) is a very rare and potentially life threatening genetic condition that occurs in about 1/10,000 to 1/50,000 people. HAE symptoms include episodes of edema (swelling) in various body parts including the hands, feet, face, and airway.

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Anaphylaxis can be treated with antihistamines and corticosteroids,
but HAE cannot! Find out which you have! Your life depends on knowing!
Additionally it is possible to have both allergies and HAE! You may need both treatments!

posted February 07, 2008 08:45 PM         

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How is Hereditary Angioedema diagnosed?
Most cases of angioedema are not HAE because swelling attacks are typically caused by something other than C1-inhibitor deficiency, usually an allergic reaction. Laboratory analysis of blood samples or genetic testing is required to establish the HAE diagnosis. There are two specific blood tests that confirm HAE:

1. C1-inhibitor quantitative (antigenic)
2. C1-inhibitor functional

common form of the disease--Type I--is characterized by low quantitative levels of C1-inhibitor and affects about 85% of patients. Type II HAE affects the other 15% of patients who have normal or elevated levels of C1-inhibitor, but the protein does not function properly. Several investigators have noted a familial (and therefore inherited) angioedema, exclusively in women with normal levels of C1INH, that is correlated with conditions creating high estrogen levels--for example, pregnancy or the use of oral contraceptives. This estrogen-dependent/estrogen-related inherited angioedema is often referred to as HAE III. A recent paper in the American Journal of Human Genetics implicates a mutation in the gene for human coagulation Factor XII as the potential cause for swellings in these patients.

How is Hereditary Angioedema treated?
There are three types of therapy for HAE patients.

1. Long term preventive treatment
2. Short term preventive treatment
3. Treatment of acute attacks

Clinicians generally recommend long term therapy for patients who experience more than one attack per month, or who believe that the disease significantly interferes with their life style. The present drugs of choice for long-term therapy are 17 alpha alkylated androgens such as danazol, and oxandrolone (Oxandrin). 17 alpha alkylated androgens produce an increase in C1-inhibitor levels, but the exact mechanism of how they do so has not been precisely defined.

Winstrol (stanozolol) was a widely used HAE therapy until the company producing the product ran into manufacturing problems and decided to discontinue manufacturing the drug. To accommodate anyone who would like to continue using Winstrol (stanozolol), the HAE Association has made arrangements for patients to purchase the drug from pharmacies equipped to make the drug in-house.

Some patients report success with a class of drugs called antifibrinolytics (epsilon aminocaproic acid is available in the US), but their use has largely been abandoned because androgens have proven to be much more effective.

The medical literature and practitioner experience confirms that corticosteriods (prednisone), antihistamines, and epinephrine are not effective in treating angioedema caused by C1-inhibitor deficiency. Short-term therapy is necessary for patients who do not require ongoing preventive treatment, but are facing dental procedures or elective surgery. Current practice calls for daily high dose androgen therapy (600-800 mgs of danazol) for at least five days prior to surgery and four days afterward. For emergency procedures, fresh frozen plasma can be used to prevent attacks. There have been reports of acute attacks getting worse after fresh frozen plasma was administered. The threat of this complication only exists during an acute attack, and is not a concern when fresh frozen plasma is given as a preventive measure.

Currently, there is no approved treatment for acute HAE attacks available in the United States. Some clinicians use fresh frozen plasma effectively, but (as noted above) this therapy is considered controversial because of reports that it caused attacks to worsen. C1-inhibitor concentrate is the treatment of choice for acute attacks of HAE, and has been available to patients in Europe for over a decade. C1 inhibitor concentrate treatment resolves the angioedema in thirty minutes to two hours with complete remission in twenty-four hours. C1-inhibitor concentrate is not available in the United States. To the dismay of US HAE patients, a poorly designed C1-inhibitor concentrate phase III clinical trial sponsored by a major multinational pharmaceutical company did not result in a US license for this life saving product. C1INH concentrate can be purchased under the FDA’s Personal Importation guidelines. As noted on our website, http://www. haea.org, The HAE Association provides patients with technical assistance on personal importation of C1INH concentrate.

The absence of an effective acute attack therapy limits clinicians to providing supportive care. Maintaining an open airway is the primary concern for patients with laryngeal edema. Because gastrointestinal edema usually involves excruciating pain and frequent vomiting, therapy should include aggressive pain management and fluid replacement. Clinicians report that Zofran, compazine, and phernergan are effective in reducing nausea and vomiting, while either morphine, dilaudid, darvocet, or other narcotics can be used to relieve attack related abdominal pain.

Unfortunately, the HAE literature in the mid seventies made reference to patients who developed narcotic dependency and this observation was repeated in subsequent papers. Many HAE patients have noted that physicians are often wary of prescribing pain medicine for painful abdominal attacks, and this could be due to reports contained in the literature. Any notion that the HAE population suffers from widespread narcotics addiction has been discredited by the experience of researchers who have treated relatively large numbers of patients.

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posted February 08, 2008 10:38 AM         

I'm extremely thankfull for all the information you've given me though! Especially for telling me the english name of it. See I just knew new the norwegian name, and didn't now how to properly translate it. That's why I was uncertain about the name. Now I can research it on the internet though, in ENGLISH! because there's not all that much information in Norwegian, where it's called "angiødem".

But have you tried any of the treatments? In which case, have they helped anything at all?? Your condition sounds much worse than mine. I've only really have trouble breathing 3 times, of which 2 of them lastet but for only a short time.

posted February 08, 2008 05:46 PM         

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People should be wary practicing medicine without a license...it is illegal.

One should be evaulated by a licensed health care proiver, for the optimal advice.

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I gave all the advice based on personal experience and what I have learned from doctors on my type.
I live with this.
And will not sit back and Let incomplete medical advice be given that is dangerous if it is not common anaphylaxis.
I did not post until RainbowDay mentioned Angioedema.

posted February 08, 2008 06:59 PM         

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Wow, LEXX!! Thanks!!:O I did not know actually, that there were any major differences between the hereditary type and the other. I just thought hereditary meant that it was genetic so that it was a possibility that you may pass it on to your children! Fortunately though, I have the other type!!!

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So I guess I should get myself an epi-pen then, shouldn't I?`

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My doctor ( I don't know how it is in the US, but here you can't really choose your own doctor. you're assigned one.). Well anyways, when I first told him about my symptoms... he LAUGHED at me! He almost wouldn't give me a recommendation to a specialist (you have to have one from your doctor to be allowed to a specialist). It is incredible how little information I have got about this whole thing! Both the doctors seemed to think it unproblematic. Well why don't they try choking then?

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I did get some pills that I can take though, when my eyes get swollen. The anthistamins and prednisolon. The latter is a bit dangerous though. I shouldn't use it more than once every 2 months, which I feel compelled to violate. It is difficult, because sometimes I may even get it once a week. Other times, once every 2 months. It varies so much... I've had it for 8 years now, got it at the age of 10.

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I'm extremely thankfull for all the information you've given me though! Especially for telling me the english name of it. See I just knew new the norwegian name, and didn't now how to properly translate it. That's why I was uncertain about the name. Now I can research it on the internet though, in ENGLISH! because there's not all that much information in Norwegian, where it's called "angiødem".

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But have you tried any of the treatments? In which case, have they helped anything at all?? Your condition sounds much worse than mine. I've only really have trouble breathing 3 times, of which 2 of them lastet but for only a short time.

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It really is a bother, isn't it?

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Everytime I get it on the eyes I feel like Quasimodo. I know it sounds stupid, but I really do.

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