ANAPHYLAXIS

What is it?
Anaphylaxis is a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction that some people have to foods (like peanuts and shellfish), insect stings and bites, medicine, latex, or exercise. It is a severe allergic reaction that occurs when a person is exposed to an allergen. When the allergen enters the bloodstream the body releases chemicals to “protect” itself from the allergen. These chemicals cause a reaction in the body that, in severe cases, leads to potentially life-threatening symptoms such as the inability to breath. Anaphylaxis is most often diagnosed in childhood, but can also develop later in life.

What are the risk factors?
Those at greatest risk of experiencing a severe allergic emergency (anaphylaxis) include:
§ People who have already experienced allergic reactions or anaphylaxis
§ People with asthma
§ Children with food allergies
§ Children with eczema
§ Children whose parent(s) has allergies

What are the symptoms?
Being able to recognize the symptoms of anaphylaxis can save lives. Anaphylaxis can affect skin, upper respiratory (including the mouth and nose), lower respiratory (including the lungs), gastrointestinal (including the stomach and intestines), and cardiovascular (including the heart) systems.

The most common symptoms of anaphylaxis are:
§ Hives
§ Welts

Other more severe symptoms include:
§ Swelling of the throat, lips, tongue, or the area around the eyes
§ Difficulty breathing or swallowing
§ Metallic taste or itching in the mouth
§ Generalized flushing (sudden reddening of the face), itching, or redness of the skin
§ Abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
§ Increased heart rate
§ Decreased blood pressure (and accompanying paleness)
§ Sudden feeling of weakness
§ Anxiety or an overwhelming sense of doom
§ Collapse
§ Loss of consciousness (fainting)

Whom does it affect? How often?
Approximately 640,000 Canadians may be affected by allergies that can lead to anaphylaxis and this number is increasing. It can happen to the same person more than once and does in 75% of cases. It can even happen again within the first 48 hours of the first emergency.

Can it be prevented?
Although anaphylaxis cannot always be prevented, there are things that can be done to reduce the risk of experiencing a severe allergic reaction:
§ Understand the risk factors that might make you more likely to experience anaphylaxis
§ When possible, avoid things to which you know you are allergic
§ Check product labels for alternative names of food ingredients
§ Be aware that at some restaurants, food may be prepared with equipment that has touched foods to which you may be allergic
§ Advise children not to share foods
§ Educate all those around you including family, friends and teachers so that they are ready to assist you.

What should you do if it happens?
Be prepared and keep your EpiPen with you at all times. Teach others how to use it. EpiPen contains epinephrine (also known as adrenaline) and should be injected immediately after you notice the symptoms of anaphylaxis.

Make sure you are prepared wherever you go by having an EpiPen in all key locations, including:
§ Home (on every floor)
§ Work (office and briefcase)
§ School and/or day care (backpack and school office)
§ Gym (locker and gym bag)
§ In transit (purse, briefcase, and luggage)

Talk with your doctor and family members to determine the best places to keep EpiPen. In the event of a severe allergic emergency, you or a family member, friend or caregiver should be able to access EpiPen immediately.

What can you do as the general public?
Be aware of what you eat in public places. Children are the most vulnerable in play areas where other children may have been eating peanuts. Avoid taking peanut butter sandwiches to play areas and limit it’s consumption in public areas, especially if you are feeding kids who may make a mess and accidentally smear peanut butter on a door handle or park bench etc.
Call 911 if you notice any of the symptoms of anaphylaxis. Use their EpiPen if they have one and take them to emergency asap. Adrenaline can wear off so it is important to go to the hospital after administering the EpiPen to be sure the reaction is over.