Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCauses and TriggersTreatmentEmergency TreatmentPreventionOutlookNext in Anaphylaxis GuideSymptoms of Anaphylaxis
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes and Triggers
Treatment
Emergency Treatment
Prevention
Outlook
Next in Anaphylaxis Guide
While less severe allergic reactions can affect the skin, leading to itching and a rash, anaphylaxis may also involve tongue, lip, and airway swelling or a severe drop in blood pressure.It typically displays symptoms in two or more organ systems.
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If you are having an allergic reaction and have trouble breathing or swelling around and inside your mouth and throat, call 911 immediately.
This article will describe the signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis and will help you distinguish a severe allergic reaction from anaphylaxis. It will also go into treatments and prevention.
Anaphylaxis Symptoms
Differentiating a severe allergic reaction from anaphylaxis is challenging, and the disease processes are on a continuum. Allergic reactions may involve only one organ system, such as the skin breaking out in hives, but severe reactions can involve multiple organ systems.
Anaphylaxis
Healthcare providers will diagnose anaphylaxis when you develop symptoms in multiple organs (skin plus mucous membranes, lungs, heart, or the gastrointestinal tract).
Symptoms of anaphylaxis include:
Some People Don’t Develop HivesWhile hives and itching are classically associated with allergic reactions and anaphylaxis and commonly occur in these cases, approximately 10% to 20% of people with anaphylaxis will not have a skin reaction beforehand.
Some People Don’t Develop Hives
While hives and itching are classically associated with allergic reactions and anaphylaxis and commonly occur in these cases, approximately 10% to 20% of people with anaphylaxis will not have a skin reaction beforehand.
Anaphylaxis can either occur all at once (be uniphasic) or a few hours later, after symptoms initially improve (be biphasic), which is more common in children than adults. Very rarely, anaphylaxis can last for days to weeks.
The most common type of anaphylaxis is uniphasic, and symptoms develop over approximately 30 to 60 minutes' time.However, fatal cases can occur within minutes of symptom onset, especially from insect venom and medication triggers.
Once treatment is initiated, the symptoms resolve within minutes to hours, and most of the time, they do not recur (70% to 90% of the time).
Anaphylactic Shock
Typically, healthcare professionals use the term “shock” to indicate that a person’s blood pressure is too low.Low blood pressure may be seen in severe anaphylaxis. But the presence of low blood pressure is not required for anaphylaxis to occur. As well, normal blood pressure measurements do not necessarily mean that anaphylaxis is not severe.
Anaphylaxis and anaphylactic shock are both severe illnesses, they can be fatal, and they require epinephrine for treatment.
What Causes and Triggers Anaphylaxis?
Anyone can develop anaphylaxis, and the trigger doesn’t have to be something obvious or something a person was recently exposed to. Many triggers exist, but the most common triggers include:
Anaphylaxis at Home vs. in the HospitalMost fatal cases of medication-induced anaphylaxis happen in a hospital setting. Most fatal cases of anaphylaxis in the outpatient setting are due to food.
Anaphylaxis at Home vs. in the Hospital
Most fatal cases of medication-induced anaphylaxis happen in a hospital setting. Most fatal cases of anaphylaxis in the outpatient setting are due to food.
Risk factors for severe anaphylaxis include the following:
IncidenceThere is a higher incidence of anaphylaxis in northern than southern latitudes.
Incidence
There is a higher incidence of anaphylaxis in northern than southern latitudes.
Causes and Risk Factors of Anaphylaxis
How Do You Treat Anaphylaxis?
Once a person has developed anaphylaxis, treatment withepinephrineis necessary.If you have an epinephrine injector (EpiPen or Auvi-Q) or epinephrine nasal spray (Neffy), use it immediately. This is true regardless of whether you are sure you are having an allergic reaction. You must then get to an emergency room for further care and monitoring. Call 911 or get immediate transport to an emergency room if no EpiPen is available.
Healthcare providers can give other medications at the same time as epinephrine, but getting epinephrine is paramount. Those who have developed wheezing are also treated with bronchodilators like albuterol.
Use of an EpiPenAn EpiPen auto-injector does most of the work for you. Touse an EpiPen, follow these steps:Remove the pen from the carrier case.Place the orange part against your upper outer thigh.Remove the blue safety release.Press the injector button.After using an EpiPen, always call 911 and get emergency medical help. You need monitoring and assessment for further treatment.
Use of an EpiPen
An EpiPen auto-injector does most of the work for you. Touse an EpiPen, follow these steps:Remove the pen from the carrier case.Place the orange part against your upper outer thigh.Remove the blue safety release.Press the injector button.After using an EpiPen, always call 911 and get emergency medical help. You need monitoring and assessment for further treatment.
An EpiPen auto-injector does most of the work for you. Touse an EpiPen, follow these steps:
After using an EpiPen, always call 911 and get emergency medical help. You need monitoring and assessment for further treatment.
Anaphylaxis Emergency Treatment
The emergency department treatment of anaphylaxis is an all-out effort and includes epinephrine in all cases.Often, allergic reactions are treated stepwise depending on the severity of the disease, but epinephrine must be given immediately, even while awaiting all other treatments.
The list of treatments includes:
How to Prevent Future Anaphylaxis
While prevention is vital, having the best treatments on hand can prevent severe symptoms and death. If you or someone in your home has suffered a severe allergic reaction at any time, keep an EpiPen kit on hand at all times.
It’s excellent practice for all healthcare providers to prescribe a two-pack EpiPen to all people treated for allergic reactions in an emergency department or clinic. Make sure you have this prescription and keep it updated every few years.
Even Expired EpiPens Can WorkMost pharmacists indicate the EpiPen lasts 12 to 18 months, but even EpiPens that are five to seven years old still contain around 70% to 80% of active medicine.Some epinephrine is better than no epinephrine, so use it if that’s all you have.
Even Expired EpiPens Can Work
Most pharmacists indicate the EpiPen lasts 12 to 18 months, but even EpiPens that are five to seven years old still contain around 70% to 80% of active medicine.Some epinephrine is better than no epinephrine, so use it if that’s all you have.
How Long Do EpiPens Last?
Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening emergency, but it is uncommon. Less than 2% of the population will develop anaphylaxis sometime during their life.
Whatever the case, fatal anaphylaxis is rare. However, everyone with a previous allergic reaction or known risk factors for severe anaphylaxis (asthma, lung disease, older age) should keep EpiPens on hand. They can save a life.
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Bilò MB, Martini M, Tontini C, Corsi A, Antonicelli L.Anaphylaxis.Eur Ann Allergy Clin Immunol. 2021;53(1):4-17. doi:10.23822/EurAnnACI.1764-1489.158LoVerde D, Iweala OI, Eginli A, Krishnaswamy G.Anaphylaxis.Chest. 2018;153(2):528-543. doi:10.1016/j.chest.2017.07.033Dribin TE, Motosue MS, Campbell RL.Overview of allergy and anaphylaxis.Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2022;40(1):1-17. doi:10.1016/j.emc.2021.08.007Pflipsen MC, Vega Colon KM.Anaphylaxis: recognition and management.Am Fam Physician. 2020;102(6):355-362.Keith PK, Denburg JA, Kruszewski J, Jankowski M.Anaphylaxis and anaphylactic shock. McMaster Textbook of Internal Medicine. Kraków: Medycyna Praktyczna.Mylan.How to use an EpiPen.Cantrell FL.Epinephrine concentrations in EpiPens after the expiration date.Ann Intern Med. 2018;168(1):82. doi:10.1542/peds.2017-2475FF
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Bilò MB, Martini M, Tontini C, Corsi A, Antonicelli L.Anaphylaxis.Eur Ann Allergy Clin Immunol. 2021;53(1):4-17. doi:10.23822/EurAnnACI.1764-1489.158LoVerde D, Iweala OI, Eginli A, Krishnaswamy G.Anaphylaxis.Chest. 2018;153(2):528-543. doi:10.1016/j.chest.2017.07.033Dribin TE, Motosue MS, Campbell RL.Overview of allergy and anaphylaxis.Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2022;40(1):1-17. doi:10.1016/j.emc.2021.08.007Pflipsen MC, Vega Colon KM.Anaphylaxis: recognition and management.Am Fam Physician. 2020;102(6):355-362.Keith PK, Denburg JA, Kruszewski J, Jankowski M.Anaphylaxis and anaphylactic shock. McMaster Textbook of Internal Medicine. Kraków: Medycyna Praktyczna.Mylan.How to use an EpiPen.Cantrell FL.Epinephrine concentrations in EpiPens after the expiration date.Ann Intern Med. 2018;168(1):82. doi:10.1542/peds.2017-2475FF
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Bilò MB, Martini M, Tontini C, Corsi A, Antonicelli L.Anaphylaxis.Eur Ann Allergy Clin Immunol. 2021;53(1):4-17. doi:10.23822/EurAnnACI.1764-1489.158LoVerde D, Iweala OI, Eginli A, Krishnaswamy G.Anaphylaxis.Chest. 2018;153(2):528-543. doi:10.1016/j.chest.2017.07.033Dribin TE, Motosue MS, Campbell RL.Overview of allergy and anaphylaxis.Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2022;40(1):1-17. doi:10.1016/j.emc.2021.08.007Pflipsen MC, Vega Colon KM.Anaphylaxis: recognition and management.Am Fam Physician. 2020;102(6):355-362.Keith PK, Denburg JA, Kruszewski J, Jankowski M.Anaphylaxis and anaphylactic shock. McMaster Textbook of Internal Medicine. Kraków: Medycyna Praktyczna.Mylan.How to use an EpiPen.Cantrell FL.Epinephrine concentrations in EpiPens after the expiration date.Ann Intern Med. 2018;168(1):82. doi:10.1542/peds.2017-2475FF
Bilò MB, Martini M, Tontini C, Corsi A, Antonicelli L.Anaphylaxis.Eur Ann Allergy Clin Immunol. 2021;53(1):4-17. doi:10.23822/EurAnnACI.1764-1489.158
LoVerde D, Iweala OI, Eginli A, Krishnaswamy G.Anaphylaxis.Chest. 2018;153(2):528-543. doi:10.1016/j.chest.2017.07.033
Dribin TE, Motosue MS, Campbell RL.Overview of allergy and anaphylaxis.Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2022;40(1):1-17. doi:10.1016/j.emc.2021.08.007
Pflipsen MC, Vega Colon KM.Anaphylaxis: recognition and management.Am Fam Physician. 2020;102(6):355-362.
Keith PK, Denburg JA, Kruszewski J, Jankowski M.Anaphylaxis and anaphylactic shock. McMaster Textbook of Internal Medicine. Kraków: Medycyna Praktyczna.
Mylan.How to use an EpiPen.
Cantrell FL.Epinephrine concentrations in EpiPens after the expiration date.Ann Intern Med. 2018;168(1):82. doi:10.1542/peds.2017-2475FF
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