First Aid for Anaphylactic Shock

Many modern people are allergic to certain foods, tree and plant pollen, pet dander, and many other factors. But the most dangerous manifestation of allergy is anaphylactic shock. Many have heard about it, but not everyone understands what it really represents and how you can help yourself or another person when it manifests.

The danger of anaphylactic shock lies in the fact that the pathological processes in the body caused by the ingress of an allergen develop almost instantly. Therefore, assistance must be effective, competent and fast, and only under this condition can we talk about saving lives.

Causes of anaphylactic shock

Usually, anaphylactic shock develops when the irritant enters the body again. Therefore, in principle, according to the first reaction of the body to a certain substance, one can speak of an existing danger. But it is not always possible to predict such a situation, sometimes anaphylactic shock develops at the first contact with the allergen, mistaking it for a substance similar in antigenic structure. This reaction is called cross-allergy.

A common cause of anaphylactic shock is medications based on protein molecules. These can be vaccines, hormonal drugs, antidotes.

If we consider the statistics, then antibiotics are in second place among the factors provoking such a reaction of the body. The advantage is the penicillin group and substances similar in structure. It is against the background of the use of antibiotics that a cross-reaction can develop. Also, novocaine and other local anesthetics often act as an allergen.

A common cause of anaphylactic shock is the bites of hymenoptera insects, in particular wasps and bees, whose venom is a strong allergen. Reactions to food irritants are very rarely this severe.

The rate of development of anaphylactic shock

The speed of allergic shock depends not only on the type of allergen, but also on the way it enters the body. The most rapid anaphylaxis occurs when the irritant enters the bloodstream immediately, that is, with intravenous or intramuscular injections.

When it comes to insect bites or skin contact with an allergen (plant pollen, creams, ointments, etc.), it takes some time for the substance to spread throughout the body. Food anaphylaxis can occur 1,5-2 hours after eating a prohibited product.

There are several forms of acute reaction of the body to the pathogen. Fulminant shock – develops instantly in 1-5 seconds. Most often, the result of this phenomenon is death, since there is no time to provide assistance. It is possible to save only those people in whom anaphylaxis manifested itself during medical procedures, if specialists notice the reaction in a timely manner and have the necessary drugs for resuscitation.

In the acute form, anaphylactic shock develops in 10-30 minutes. That is, a person feels a deterioration in his condition and can seek medical help. When it comes to the subacute form, the first signs of anaphylaxis appear after 30-60 minutes, and in most cases it is possible to provide the necessary assistance even before the onset of the acute form.

Evidence

Signs of the development of anaphylactic shock are important to know for everyone! This will help save your own life and the lives of loved ones.

The main symptoms of anaphylaxis are:

• rapid development of skin allergic reactions – rash, itching, swelling, redness;
• fever, shortness of breath;
• Quincke’s edema – in this case, not only the tongue and lips swell, but also the nose, ears, upper and lower extremities;
• a sharp change in mood, panic attacks are possible;
• pain – in the heart, in the abdomen, severe headache;
• hoarseness, barking cough, redness of the eyes, rapid secretion from the nose.

These are the primary signs that make it easy to recognize a life-threatening condition.

Further, there is a sharp drop in blood pressure, pallor of the skin, rapid but weak pulse and loss of consciousness. At this stage, only qualified specialists can help a person.

First Aid for Anaphylactic Shock

First aid for anaphylactic shock often becomes a decisive factor – if all activities are carried out in a timely manner, then a person has a high chance of waiting for the arrival of doctors and surviving.

If you suspect the development of anaphylaxis, you should immediately call an emergency team, without fail indicating the reason for the call and the suspected cause of the development of allergic shock.

Next, you need to lay the patient on a flat hard surface. A tight roller is placed under the legs so that they are slightly higher than the level of the head. Such actions are necessary to facilitate the work of the circulatory system and the normal supply of oxygen to the brain.

It is important that the air in the room is fresh and cool. You can open the window and doors, creating a draft.

It is better to remove clothing that restricts the patient’s movements. Even an ordinary shirt and belt on trousers can interfere with breathing. Moreover, by freeing a person from excess clothing, it is possible to facilitate and speed up the work of doctors who came to the call.

Removable dentures are better to pull out. Even if a person does not have cramps, a hard object can be placed between the teeth – this will avoid the sinking of the tongue.

Additional assistance to the victim is aimed at reducing the rate of entry of the allergen into the blood. For example, if we are talking about a bee sting, then ice can be applied to the bite itself – this will slow down the spread of poison throughout the body. The same measures will be effective in anaphylaxis caused by injection.

Medical care for anaphylactic shock involves the introduction of adrenaline into the body and replenishment of the lack of fluid. Analogues of adrenaline – norepinephrine, mezaton. The maximum dose of the substance is 2 ml. You can enter it yourself only as a last resort, and if possible, it is better to wait for the doctors to arrive.

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