In line with its mission, the Editorial Board of MedTvoiLokony makes every effort to provide reliable medical content supported by the latest scientific knowledge. The additional flag “Checked Content” indicates that the article has been reviewed by or written directly by a physician. This two-step verification: a medical journalist and a doctor allows us to provide the highest quality content in line with current medical knowledge.
Our commitment in this area has been appreciated, among others, by by the Association of Journalists for Health, which awarded the Editorial Board of MedTvoiLokony with the honorary title of the Great Educator.
Anaphylactic shock is a rapidly progressive disease manifested by circulatory and respiratory failure, and consequently failure of many organs.
Failure to recognize or treat shock improperly can lead to irreversible changes in many organs, including death. Anaphylactic shock can be caused by various types of sensitizing agents (allergens) that enter the child’s or adult’s body through the digestive tract, respiratory tract, bites, and in the case of drugs – by intramuscular or intravenous injection.
Symptoms of the respiratory tract (swelling of the mucosa) appear first, followed by a fall in blood pressure due to the relaxation of muscles and blood vessels. The symptoms of shock in a child change as the organs of the body grow older and mature. Parents may notice changes in the color and appearance of the skin – pallor, cyanosis, rash; breathing – rapid, shortness of breath, wheezing; heart rate – the speed of the heartbeat (making it faster or slower) – put your hand on your chest and count the number of beats per minute.
Since shock is a direct threat to life, an ambulance should be called immediately if an allergic reaction is suspected. When making the call, say that you suspect allergic (anaphylactic) shock. Before the arrival of the ambulance, parents or guardians should assess the child’s health condition and take appropriate pre-medical measures: ensure that the airways are open (risk of the tongue collapsing in an unconscious child), clean the mouth of any vomit with a finger. Stay calm and do not shake your baby, as the anxiety around you infects your baby, making it worse.
Should the heart rate slow down and cardiac arrest, cardiac massage and artificial respiration should be performed, bearing in mind that the younger the child, the more chest compressions should be performed with the fingers and not with the whole hand. Inhaling small children with artificial respiration should be done not fully but with the exhalation, as the volume of the child’s lungs is small. Giving medications orally in shock does not make sense and may encourage aspiration.
Also read: When can a wasp kill?