Background

Condition Lookup

Sub-Category:

Allergic Reactions

Number of Conditions: 1

Anaphylaxis

Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care

Category: Miscellaneous Emergencies

Sub-category: Allergic Reactions

Symptoms:
difficulty breathing; swelling of the face or throat; hives or skin rash; rapid or weak pulse; nausea or vomiting; dizziness or fainting

Root Cause:
Severe allergic reaction caused by the release of histamine and other chemicals from immune cells, leading to widespread inflammation and tissue swelling.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Diagnosis is clinical, based on a sudden onset of symptoms after exposure to a known allergen. Confirmatory tests may include elevated serum tryptase levels or identification of the allergen through skin or blood tests after stabilization.

Treatment:
Immediate administration of intramuscular epinephrine is the primary treatment, followed by supportive measures such as oxygen, IV fluids, and antihistamines.

Medications:
Epinephrine (first-line treatment, adrenergic agonist), antihistamines like diphenhydramine (H1 antagonist) and ranitidine (H2 antagonist), corticosteroids like methylprednisolone (to reduce rebound inflammation).

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Approximately 1.6–5% of the global population experiences anaphylaxis at some point in their lifetime.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
History of allergies, asthma, previous anaphylactic reactions, family history of anaphylaxis, exposure to triggers (foods, insect stings, medications).

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
With prompt treatment, most cases resolve without long-term complications. Delay in treatment can lead to fatal outcomes, including cardiac arrest or asphyxiation.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Airway obstruction, shock, cardiac arrest, prolonged hypoxia leading to brain injury, or biphasic anaphylaxis (recurrent symptoms after initial treatment).