Doctors in the current world have accepted that an anaphylactic shock is a life-threatening form of allergic reaction. This condition has a serious consequence despite being readily treatable. This paper expounds on anaphylaxis, its causes, the effects on the patient and how it can be treated.
Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening allergic reaction caused by a reaction to substances in food, insect stings, latex as well as some medications. This condition occurs when the immune system reacts to the allergen by releasing counter chemicals which cause allergic symptoms.
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Causes
Different things cause anaphylaxis. The primary causes, however, are nuts. However, some fish products and fruits are also some of the known causes of this condition. Further, there are some drugs which are among the known causes of this disease. These drugs include penicillin, beta-blockers, and some anesthetics. Latex is also one of the known causatives which affect people who have contact with it.
Symptoms
The symptoms of Anaphylaxis are rashes, swellings on some parts of the body such as the eyes, vomiting, diarrhea, asthma and even death in extreme cases (www.nhs.uk, 2016) . Further, this condition is characterized by wheezing, coughing, and tightness in the chest of the patient. Itchy hives or rashes or redness of the skin of the patient can be observed in the patient also. Some individuals may experience swollen and itchy lips.
Treatment
Anaphylaxis requires an urgent medical attention which includes an injection of the patient with epinephrine. However, the patients’ treatment following an occurrence of this condition depends on the symptoms which have manifested over some time and the severity of the symptoms. The response of the patient to treatment is another crucial factor which determines the depth of treatment on an individual. Patients who do not show signs of any life-threatening symptoms are typically observed for between 5-7 hours of treatment before being discharged. Those patients with severe symptoms of Anaphylaxis such as severe respiratory symptoms, on the other hand, should be admitted for longer hours of treatment and observation in the emergency department (Shahzad Mustafa, 2016) .
Effects
According to research, this condition has effects on different parts of the body and the normal body functioning. This condition has an effect on the heart of the patients and mostly on those with coronary diseases. This condition also has effects on the skin and the respiratory system. The circulatory system, on the other hand, faces the danger of leaking blood into tissues (Pietrangelo, 2014) .
For the case of a school, it is important for a school nurse to carefully analyze the condition of the patient before deciding on whether to treat the patient or to refer the patient to another medical facility where there are enough medical facilities to treat the condition. For conditions such as respiratory issues and difficulties, it is critical for the patient to be taken as quickly as possible to a medical facility because these symptoms are life-threatening.
References
Aranez, V. T. (2015). An Evaluation of the Treatment of Anaphylaxis in a Pediatric Emergency Room Setting. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology , AB204.
Shahzad Mustafa, M. A. (2016, 5 31). 135065-treatment . Retrieved from emedicine.medscape.com: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/135065-treatment
www.nhs.uk. (2016). Treatment.aspx . Retrieved from www.nhs.uk: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Anaphylaxis/Pages/Treatment.aspx
