Anaphylaxis Treatment
Anaphylaxis is a severe life-threatening allergic reaction that requires immediate medical attention. The symptoms occur very quickly and cause difficulty in breathing, rapid swelling of the skin and hives on the lips, eyelids, and throat and sometimes on the tongue. Encephalitis, which is an infection of the brain, could also occur.
First aid treatment for anaphylaxis may involve administering CPR if the victim stops breathing. In some cases the piece of food causing the allergic reaction may still be lodged in the throat, which could hinder CPR, so the airways must be cleared. It is essential to keep the patient breathing until qualified medical personnel arrive on the scene.
The administration of epinephrine is another common treatment for anaphylaxis. This helps to stimulate the heart to continue beating and prevents any worsening of airway constriction. If the patient has had an attack like this in the past, he/she may be carrying an Epi-pen. This is a medical device one can get with a doctor’s prescription. It is in the shape of a pen and contains the right amount of epinephrine treatment. To administer the treatment, one grasps the pen and stabs it into the fleshy part of the thigh.
When medical personnel arrive or after the injection of epinephrine, the patient must be brought to the emergency department of the nearest hospital. Emergency personnel will start an IV at the scene to bring fluids to the body and pressor agents to the heart. In severe cases of angioedema where the swelling of the tissues causes difficulty in breathing, a tracheotomy may be needed to allow the patient to breathe. High doses of corticosteroids are often required to bring the allergic reaction under control.
Once a person has an allergic reaction, he/she has to undergo a series of tests to determine the nature of the allergen. The patient has to develop a plan of action to prepare for another attack, at least until the cause of the anaphylaxis has been determined. Once it is found, the patient then has to ensure he/she does not use that product again. In the case of a sting or bite from an insect being the cause, the patient should always carry an Epi-pen and those with him/her should be aware of the symptoms and how to use the pen.