ANAPHYLAXIS is a life-threatening allergic reaction that happens very quickly in response to food, medicine or insect stings.
Most people associate it with a swollen throat, difficulty breathing, an itchy rash and perhaps even fainting.
GettySome signs of anaphylaxis can be subtle, a GP has warned[/caption]
But many of the most common symptoms are actually far more subtle – particularly in children, a GP has warned.
Dr Helen Evans-Howells, who specialises in allergies, said: “It’s so important to recognise the signs of anaphylaxis – early intervention may prevent progression to a more serious event.
“I never knew this info, even as a trained doctor, as no one explicitly taught us how anaphylaxis presents.
“To me, I assumed someone would collapse and have low blood pressure and high heart rate.
“This can happen, but would imply anaphylactic shock – which thankfully is not common.
“Sometimes the way allergies present with younger children can be just that they seem to not be liking the taste [of a food].”
Anaphylaxis and anaphylactic shock both refer to a severe allergic reaction, but the latter happens when your blood pressure drops so low that your organs don’t get enough oxygen.
According to the NHS, the first signs of anaphylaxis are usually:
Swelling of your throat and tongueDifficulty breathing or breathing very fastDifficulty swallowing or tightness in your throatWheezing, coughing or noisy breathingFeeling tired or confusedFeeling faint, dizzy or faintingSkin that feels cold to the touchBlue, grey or pale skin, lips or tongue (if you have brown or black skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet)A rash that’s swollen, raised or itchy
Some of the lesser-known symptoms include:
DizzinessAnxiety or feeling that something really bad is happening/impending doomDelirium AgitationConfusionA hoarse voiceIncreased heart rate Nausea and/or vomitingDiarrhoeaAbdominal painLoss of bladder control
Dr Evans-Howells, from Bournemouth, learned of the dangers of not knowing the potential signs when her son fell ill.
“When Ethan had anaphylaxis, I didn’t even realise,” she said.
“I just thought the reaction was a bit odd as the poor soul coughed for England and was covered in hives and swollen.”
She gave Ethan, who is allergic to milk and nuts, antihistamines and his inhaler – but later learned this is not the right thing to do.
Instead, she should have first administered adrenaline (which is in EpiPens) to reverse his symptoms.
A spokesperson for the charity Anaphylaxis UK said: “Sometimes people use antihistamines first to put off or avoid using adrenaline, but you should use adrenaline first if you think the reaction is anaphylaxis.
“Adrenaline acts quickly to open up the airways by reducing swelling and raising blood pressure.
“It needs to be given as soon as possible when there are any signs of a serious allergic reaction.
“Serious symptoms are easier to reverse when they’re treated early.”
‘LET’S SAVE LIVES’
Thankfully, Ethan made a full recovery, but Dr Evans-Howells wants people to learn from her mistake.
She said: “I will be forever grateful that he got better and I am able to stand here today and watch him win his 1,500m race.
“It is the love of my children that drives me on to work harder – to support them in their goals but to also make sure no family risks under-treating their child and having the worst consequences.
“Let’s save lives together.”
Two thirds of people in the UK – 41million – suffer from some form of allergy, according to Allergy UK.
Reactions can range from just a sniffle or itch to life-threatening anaphylaxis, which blocks the airways.
Government data shows that around 20 to 30 people die every year in the UK from anaphylaxis, though experts suspect this number could be much higher.
Research published in the British Medical Journal in 2021 revealed cow’s milk to be the most common cause of fatal anaphylaxis in school children.
The same study found the rate of UK hospital admissions has more than tripled over the last 20 years, but the death rate has halved.
A report by Test Your Intolerance last month revealed the UK’s top 10 allergies to be:
Egg whiteWheatGreen beansRyeAlmondEgg yolkSpeltPeanutSoyCow’s milk
What to do if you have anaphylaxis
Call 999 for an ambulance and say that you think you’re having an anaphylactic reactionLie down – you can raise your legs, and if you’re struggling to breathe, raise your shoulders or sit up slowly (if you’re pregnant, lie on your left side)Use an adrenaline auto-injector (such as an EpiPen) if you have one – instructions are included on the side of the injectorIf you have been stung by an insect, try to remove the sting if it’s still in the skinIf your symptoms have not improved after five minutes, use a 2nd adrenaline auto-injectorDo not stand or walk at any time, even if you feel better
Greg Rutherford was rushed to hospital with a suspected allergic reaction this week – though he still doesn’t know the cause.
The athlete and Strictly Come Dancing star was “screaming in pain and clawing at his skin” before entering a state of delirium.
His fiancee Susie Verrill was forced to drive him to A&E, where he was “pumped full of steroids and antihistamines”.
Greg was discharged from hospital three hours later without a definitive explanation as to what happened.
The couple insist they didn’t “eat or drink anything different” to usual, but fear Greg has developed a sudden nut allergy.
What is anaphylaxis?
ANAPHYLAXIS is a serious and often sudden allergic reaction, requiring emergency treatment.
Any allergic reaction, including anaphylaxis, occurs when the body’s immune system wrongly identifies a food or substance as a threat.
Reactions usually begin within minutes and rapidly progress, but can occur up to two to three hours later.
Allergic reactions are caused by the sudden release of chemicals, including histamine, from cells in the body.
The release is triggered by the reaction between the immune system antibodies (called Immunoglobulin E or IgE) and the food or substance (known as an allergen) it has been exposed to.
The body will have been exposed to the allergen on a previous occasion, although the person may not have been aware of this at the time.
On that earlier occasion, the allergen was wrongly identified as a threat and antibodies were made against it, which means that on the next exposure, a serious reaction may occur.
The mechanism is so sensitive that sometimes even tiny amounts of the allergen can cause an allergic reaction.
Source: Anaphylaxis UK
Greg Rutherford was rushed to hospital with a suspected allergic reaction this weekRex Read More