Severe Allergic Reaction
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Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.
- Severe Allergic Reaction Overview
- Severe Allergic Reaction Causes
- Severe Allergic Reaction Symptoms
- When to Seek Medical Care
- Exams and Tests
- Severe Allergic Reaction Treatment
- Self-Care at Home
- Medical Treatment
- Medications
- Next Steps
- Follow-up
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- Outlook
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- Related anaphylaxis articles:
Anaphylaxis - on WebMD - Viewer Comments: Anaphylaxis - Treatments
- Viewer Comments: Anaphylaxis - Symptoms
- Viewer Comments: Anaphylaxis - Describe Your Experience
Anaphylaxis - on MedicineNet
Severe Allergic Reaction Overview
Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that occurs rapidly and causes a life-threatening response involving the whole body. This reaction can lead to difficulty breathing and shock ultimately leading to death.
For an anaphylactic reaction to occur, you must have been exposed in the past to the substance that causes the reaction, called the antigen. This is called "sensitization."
- A bee sting, for example, may not cause an allergic reaction the first time.
- Another bee sting may produce a sudden, severe allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis or anaphylactic shock.
You may develop sensitivity and anaphylaxis to a substance that you have been exposed to many times in the past without a reaction, and often people don't recall the previous exposure.
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Anaphylaxis - Treatments
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Anaphylaxis - Symptoms
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Anaphylaxis - Describe Your Experience
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Severe Allergic Reaction (Anaphylactic Shock)
Allergy Shots Overview
Some allergens are simply impossible to avoid. You cannot live a normal life and completely avoid pollen, dust mites, mold spores, and certain other common triggers of allergic reactions. Many allergy sufferers use medications such as antihistamines and steroid nasal sprays to suppress their symptoms, and these medications are very effective in most. For people with very severe symptoms, and those who cannot take allergy medications, immunotherapy is an alternative.
Immunotherapy is the name for a treatment used by allergy specialists (allergists) to reduce sensitivity to allergens. This therapy is particularly useful for people with allergic rhinitis (sometimes called hay fever). Immunotherapy involves a series of injections (shots) given regularly for several years. In the past, this was called a serum, but this is an incorrect name. Most allergists now call this mixture an allergy extract. The first shots contain very tiny amount...
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The immune system is an integral part of human protection against disease, but the normally protective immune mechanisms can sometimes cause detrimental reactions in the host.
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