Anaphylaxis
In the news in recent weeks has been the story of Mylan Pharmaceutical who is the sole manufacturer of a life-saving devise called the Epipen which is the first line of defense against anaphylaxis, sometimes called anaphylactic shock. This condition which is brought on by an allergic reaction that causes several of the bodies systems to shut down and if not treated promptly (within minutes) it could lead to death. Most people (including myself) associate anaphylaxis with food allergies and by most accounts they would be correct but in doing some research on anaphylaxis it seems that almost 59% of all allergy related deaths occur from an adverse reaction to medication. Researchers at Montefiore Medical Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University published their findings in 2014 that stated that medication was the leading cause of deaths caused by anaphylaxis. The study examined the 2,458 deaths from anaphylaxis between 1999 and 2010 and found that only 6.7% were victims of food allergies (15.2% were from venoms-stings and bites). According to various websites, roughly 200,000 to 300,000 cases of anaphylactic shock require emergency room visits with the number of deaths from anaphylaxis ranging from 150 to 400 deaths a year.
It is important to understand and recognize the symptoms of anaphylaxis and then understand how important it is to seek medical attention right away. The early signs may be a runny nose or skin rash but within 30 minutes more serious symptoms could show such as:
Ø Coughing; wheezing; and pain, itching, or tightness in your chest
Ø Fainting, dizziness, confusion, or weakness
Ø Hives; a rash; and itchy, swollen, or red skin
Ø Runny or stuffy nose and sneezing
Ø Shortness of breath or trouble breathing and rapid heartbeat
Ø Swollen or itchy lips or tongue
Ø Swollen or itchy throat, hoarse voice, trouble swallowing, tightness in your throat
Ø Vomiting, diarrhea, or cramps
Ø Weak pulse, paleness
The first line of defense against anaphylaxis is a drug called epinephrine which helps stall out the symptoms until the patient can get to the hospital for a more vigorous treatment. Estimates are that one in fifty have the potential to be effected by anaphylaxis some even say that number is too low and is really closer to one in twenty but without further data it is hard to put a solid number on it. Studies have also shown that people who suffer from food allergies tend to grow out of those allergies or become less sensitive to those allergies as they get older. The most common foods that people are allergic to and thus susceptible to anaphylactic shock are: peanuts, fish, milk, eggs, soy, wheat, shellfish and tree nuts (walnuts, hazel nuts, cashews, pistachios, pine nuts, and almonds). Some of these items are in a large number of the foods we buy at the grocery store so people who are sensitive to these foods must learn to be excellent readers of food packaging. The most common drug that cause a reaction are drugs in the penicillin family of medication. The important thing to remember is to listen to your body, if you start to feel like you’re not quite right take a moment and look to see if there is any swelling or rashes starting to break out like hives. Once upon a time when I was a young man, I ate a fresh mango that I peeled on my lunch break at work. By the time the meal was over my lips had gone numb and I had hives breaking out all over my body (all in about 20 minutes). I ended up in the emergency department of our local hospital with anaphylaxis…there was a pesticide on the peel of the fruit that was transferred to the mango as I was peeling it…lessons learned. Anaphylaxis is a serious issue and not to be taken lightly, we should all be aware of our needs and those of our family members and take the appropriate precautions. Thanks for reading, have a good week and take care of yourself and each other, remember, we’re all in this together!
Wm Reid
Best Home Care Services
325 N Eastern Ave
Connersville, IN 47331
765-827-9833
wmreid@bhcshealth.com