By anaphylactic shock, or anaphylaxis, we mean one generalized allergic reaction, which occurs suddenly and can lead to death if not promptly treated. It begins very quickly by affecting two or more systems, such as the skin and respiratory, or circulatory, or gastrointestinal system. In short, it is an allergic reaction particularly severe, which occurs only in certain circumstances.
Knowing how to recognize the symptoms promptly is therefore essential for stop the triggering of a cascade of events hemodynamics that can lead to patient death. The most common causes of anaphylactic shock include: foods, including nuts, milk, fish, shellfish, eggs, and some medicinal fruits, including some antibiotics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) insect bites, especially wasps and bees substances used for general anesthesia contrast media, used in diagnostic investigations imaging (for example, CT scan) latex, a type of rubber found in some types of rubber gloves and condoms.
In case of anaphylactic shock the system of natural defense of the body (immune system) releases a series of chemicals that cause a sudden drop in blood pressure and a restriction of the airways with blockage of breathing. So what are the symptoms of anaphylactic shock? How does it manifest itself? Disorders (symptoms) caused by anaphylactic shock include: lightheadedness, dizziness, collapse or loss of consciousness. lowering of blood pressure (hypotension), and a fast, weak heartbeat. breathing difficulties (dyspnoea), with fast, shallow breathing.
The symptom picture associated with anaphylactic shock generally passes through a series of manifestations of increasing severity: abrupt drop in blood pressure and tachycardia, intense paleness, generalized urticaria (itching that usually begins in the hands and feet), profuse sweating with cold skin, dizziness, generalized feeling of severe malaise, anxiety, distress, hoarseness, lowering of the voice, dysphonia, cough angry. but enteric symptoms may also appear (abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting) and there is a generalized skin reaction (widespread redness and itching) and a marked sensation of suffocation.
In the most acute and dramatic phase they can occur circulatory collapse, loss of consciousness and convulsions, up to coma and death that occurs following asphyxia, severe hypoxia or cardiac arrest linked to severe hypotension. So be careful, the time factor in these cases becomes decisive. only timely and adequate therapy can gradually bring vital parameters and clinical picture back to normal, the prognosis is all the more serious the shorter the time which elapses between exposure to the allergen and the appearance of the typical clinical picture of anaphylactic shock. Furthermore, it is known that the severity of the allergic reaction is inversely proportional to the time of onset, even if in some cases a serious symptomatology can manifest itself after a few hours.