Severe Allergic Reactions (Anaphylaxis)

What Is Anaphylaxis?

Anaphylaxis is a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction that can happen quickly after exposure to an allergen. It can affect breathing, blood pressure, the skin, and other parts of the body. Severe anaphylaxis can lead to anaphylactic shock, a dangerous drop in blood pressure. Knowing the signs of anaphylaxis and what to do in an emergency can save a life. At Allergy & Asthma Physicians of Commerce Township, our team helps patients find the cause of a severe reaction and plan ahead, at our Commerce Township and Mount Clemens offices.

What Causes Anaphylaxis?

Anaphylaxis can happen after exposure to a substance that triggers an allergic reaction. Common causes include:

• Foods: Peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, shellfish, fish, wheat, soy, and other foods can cause severe allergic reactions.
• Insect stings: Bees, wasps, hornets, and yellow jackets can cause anaphylaxis in people with venom allergies.
• Medications: Certain antibiotics, pain medicines, and other medications may trigger a severe allergic reaction.
• Latex: Exposure to natural rubber latex can cause an allergic reaction in some people.

Sometimes, the cause of an anaphylactic reaction is not immediately obvious. Our team can help investigate what may have triggered the reaction.

Symptoms of Anaphylaxis

Anaphylaxis can develop within minutes, although the timing can vary. Symptoms may include:

• Hives, itching, flushing, or swelling
• Swelling of the lips, tongue, or throat
• Trouble breathing, wheezing, or coughing
• Tightness in the throat or difficulty swallowing
• Dizziness, fainting, or weakness
• A rapid heartbeat or low blood pressure
• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal pain
• A feeling of sudden anxiety or that something is seriously wrong

Not everyone experiences every symptom, and anaphylaxis can occur without skin symptoms.

What Should I Do During an Anaphylactic Reaction?

If you have symptoms of anaphylaxis, use your epinephrine auto-injector immediately if one has been prescribed to you. Then call 911 or have someone call for emergency medical help.

Do not rely on an antihistamine instead of epinephrine. If symptoms continue or return and you have been instructed to carry more than one dose, follow your emergency action plan and your prescribed instructions.

How Do We Find the Cause?

After an anaphylactic reaction, identifying the trigger can help you prevent another reaction. Our team will review what happened, including foods you ate, medications you took, insect exposures, and other possible triggers.

Depending on your history, evaluation may include food allergy testing, venom allergy testing, or drug allergy testing. In selected situations, a medically supervised food or medication challenge may be recommended to determine whether an allergy is present.

Preventing Future Reactions

Once a potential trigger is identified, our team can create an individualized avoidance plan. You may also be prescribed an epinephrine auto-injector and taught how and when to use it.

Understanding your emergency action plan, checking food and medication ingredients when appropriate, and keeping epinephrine with you can help you feel prepared and reduce your risk of future severe reactions.

You can also see all the allergy conditions we treat.

Medically reviewed by Pulin P. Patel, DO, FACAAI