Serious Allergic Reactions (Anaphylaxis)

What Is Anaphylaxis?

Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that can be life-threatening. Things that can cause allergic reactions are called allergens.

Anaphylaxis (an-eh-fih-LAK-siss) most often happens during allergic reactions to:

• foods
• insect stings
• medicines
• latex

Anaphylaxis can be scary. But being prepared will help you treat a reaction quickly.

What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Anaphylaxis?

Severe allergic reactions can cause:

• trouble breathing
• throat tightness or feeling like the throat or airways are closing
• hoarseness or trouble speaking
• wheezing or cough
• nasal stuffiness
• nausea, belly pain, vomiting, and/or diarrhea
• trouble swallowing or drooling
• low blood pressure
• skin itching, redness, or swelling
• hives
• a feeling like something bad is about to happen
• passing out
  

Anaphylaxis can cause different symptoms at different times. An allergic reaction is considered anaphylaxis if someone has:

• any severe symptoms, such as trouble breathing, repeated vomiting, passing out, or throat tightness
  or
• two or more mild symptoms, such as hives and vomiting or coughing and swelling

A person with symptoms of anaphylaxis needs treatment right away.

How Is Anaphylaxis Treated?

Someone with anaphylaxis needs help right away. The reaction can get worse very quickly. Doctors usually want people with severe allergies to carry epinephrine auto injectors. The medicine epinephrine enters the bloodstream and works quickly against serious allergy symptoms. The injectors should always be with a child who has severe allergies, including at school, sports, jobs, and other activities. The auto injectors are small and easy to use.

If the doctor prescribes epinephrine auto injectors for your child, they will show you how to use them. Two auto injectors should always be with your child in case one injector does not work or your child needs a second dose.

The doctor also might instruct you to give your child antihistamines in certain cases. But always treat a serious reaction with epinephrine. Never use antihistamines instead of epinephrine in serious reactions.