When Allergy Kills
Article contributed by:
Raffles Medical Group
Allergic reactions can
range from mild symptoms
to serious consequences
including death. Anaphylaxis is a severe,
potentially
life-threatening
allergic reaction.
Understand it today and
survive an attack
anytime.
If you have been found
to be allergic to insect
bites / stings, food or
medications, you may be
at risk of anaphylaxis. Exposure to the
offending allergen, be
it the venom from a bee
sting or a small peanut,
can lead to anaphylaxis
within minutes.
According to Dr Gabriel
Cheong, Senior
Physician at the
Emergency Department of
Raffles Hospital,
anaphylaxis requires an
immediate trip to the
doctor’s clinic as it
can lead to
unconsciousness or even
death if treatment is
not promptly
administered.
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During anaphylaxis, your immune system releases a flood of chemicals causing you to go into shock. Your blood pressure drops suddenly while your airways narrow, blocking normal breathing.
Common triggers of anaphylaxis include certain foods and medications, insect venom and latex. |
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Symptoms of anaphylaxis
may include:
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Skin reactions
including hives and
itching, flushed or
pale skin |
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Constricted airways
and a swollen tongue
or throat, causing
wheezing and trouble
breathing |
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Nausea, vomiting or
diarrhoea |
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Dizziness or
fainting, loss of
consciousness |
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Understanding Allergy
Our immune system
produces antibodies to
defend us against
foreign substances. “This is important to
defend against harmful
organisms,” says Dr
Cheong, “But some
people’s immune systems
overreact to substances
that do not usually
cause an immune reaction
in the first place. When
this occurs, our immune
system sets off a
chemical chain reaction,
leading to allergy
symptoms. For most
people, allergy symptoms
are not
life-threatening. But in
some people this
reaction leads to
anaphylaxis.”
Thankfully, anaphylaxis
is not common, though
those with a history of
allergies or asthma are
at higher risk. This is
especially so for those
who had a serious
allergic reaction or an
anaphylactic reaction
before.
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Doctor, I’ve a severe
allergic reaction!
During a life
threatening anaphylactic
attack, you should seek
emergency medical help
right away as your
airway may become
obstructed, leading to
respiratory and cardiac
failure. You will
require immediate
emergency treatment. If
the person having the
attack carries an
epinephrine
auto-injector, you
should administer the
shot right away.
However, even if
symptoms improve after
the injection, a visit
to the emergency
department is still
necessary as symptoms
may recur.
If you had a severe
allergy attack or any
signs and symptoms of
anaphylaxis before, you
should make an
appointment to see your
doctor to properly
evaluate, diagnose and
manage it. Future
reactions may be more
severe than the first.
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Treatment
Medications that are
helpful in treating an
anaphylaxis attack
include:
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Injected
antihistamines and
steroids
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A beta agonist (such
as albuterol)
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You can consider
immunotherapy, a
long-term treatment, if
your anaphylactic
reaction is triggered by
insect stings. In
immunotherapy, low doses
of the offending
allergen are injected
into your body over time
to reduce its allergic
response and prevent a
severe reaction in the
future.
Unfortunately, in most
other cases there is no
way to treat the
underlying immune system
condition that can lead
to anaphylaxis. But you
can take steps to
prevent a future attack
- and be prepared in the
event one does occur.
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Prevention
Dr Cheong recommends
some simple steps you
can take to prevent
anaphylaxis - by
avoiding the substances
that cause the reaction:
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Indicate you have an
allergy to specific
drugs or substances
by putting on a
medical alert
necklace or
bracelet.
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Have an emergency
kit with prescribed
medications
available. Your
doctor can advise
you on the
appropriate
contents. This
may include an
epinephrine
auto-injector.
Make sure your
auto-injector has not
expired.
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If you’re allergic
to stinging insects,
exercise caution
when they’re nearby.
Wear long-sleeved
shirts and trousers.
Avoid bright colours
and don’t wear
perfumes or
colognes. Stay
calm, move away
slowly and avoid
slapping at the
insect.
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Avoid wearing
sandals or walking
barefoot in the
grass if you’re
allergic to insect
stings.
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If you have specific
food allergies,
carefully read the
labels of all the
foods you buy.
Manufacturing
processes can
change, so it’s
important to
periodically recheck
the labels of foods
you commonly eat.
When eating out, ask
about ingredients in
the food, and ask
about food
preparation because
even small amounts
of the food you’re
allergic to can
cause a serious
reaction.
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First Aid for
Anaphylaxis
If you observe someone
having an allergic
reaction with signs of
anaphylaxis:
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Call 995 or
6311 1555
for Raffles
Hospital’s
emergency
hotline. |
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Check if the
person is
carrying any
special
medication
to treat an
allergic
attack, such
as an
auto-injector
of
epinephrine.
Administer
the drug as
directed
-usually by
pressing the
auto-injector
against the
person’s
thigh and
holding it
in place for
several
seconds.
Massage the
injection
site for 10
seconds to
enhance
absorption.
After
administering
epinephrine,
have the
person take
an
antihistamine
pill if he /
she is able
to do so
without
choking.
Look for a
medical
emergency ID
bracelet or
necklace. |
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The person
should be
lying on his
/ her back
with the
feet higher
than the
head. |
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Loosen any
tight
clothing and
cover the
person with
a blanket.
Don’t give
him / her
anything
else to
drink. |
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If there’s
vomiting or
bleeding
from the
mouth, turn
the person
on his / her
side to
prevent
choking. |
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If there are
no signs of
circulation
(i.e.
breathing,
coughing or
movement),
begin CPR. |
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Article contributed by:
Raffles Medical Group
Dated: July 2011
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Raffles
Medical
Group is
a leading
medical
group and
the largest
private
group
practice in
Singapore.
As a fully
integrated
healthcare
organisation,
the Group
owns and
operates a
network of
family
medicine
clinics, a
tertiary
care private
hospital,
insurance
services and
a consumer
healthcare
division.
Patients of
the Group
enjoy a
continuum of
care, from
having their
most basic
healthcare
needs met
through the
Group’s
islandwide
network of
Raffles
Medical
clinics, to
specialist
and tertiary
care at
Raffles
Hospital. |
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