About Anaphylaxis
Anaphylactic Reactions
What is an anaphylactic reaction?
An anaphylactic reaction is a severe allergic reaction. It happens quickly after you are exposed to a substance or ingest a food that you are severely allergic to.
Our immune systems produce antibodies that protect us against invading bacteria and viruses. If you have allergies, your immune system overreacts to substances normally considered harmless. Your immune system creates a specific antibody to protect you against the offending allergen (food, medication, venom, etc.).
For an anaphylactic reaction to happen, you must have been exposed to the allergen in the past. Anaphylactic reactions occur only if you are re-exposed to the allergen.
Signs and Symptoms
Cardiovascular- light-headedness
- cool, clammy skin/sweating
- change of skin colour (pale or blue)
- fainting or loss of consciousness
- weak pulse
- stomach cramps/pain
- diarrhea
- nausea and/or vomiting
- throat tightness/trouble swallowing
- hoarse voice
- wheezing
- shortness of breath
- coughing
- chest tightness/pain
- nasal congestion
- runny, itchy nose
- hives (white fluid-filled blisters surrounded by redness)
- itching (any part of the body)
- swelling (eyes, lips, face, and tongue in particular)
- redness
- warmth
A headache, severe anxiety or a feeling of impending doom can also be signs of an anaphylactic reaction.
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Not all anaphylactic reactions are alike
When an anaphylactic reaction occurs, how long it lasts and how severe it is will vary from person to person.The severity of a student’s reaction to an allergen won’t necessarily be the same. A student may have different signs and symptoms present with each subsequent reaction.
Reactions might begin within seconds or hours
School staff should always be prepared for a serious reaction. Reactions may begin within seconds or hours, and can re-occur up to 8 hours after exposure, even if the initial treatment was successful.Previous reactions must be described in detail
Since the combination and severity of symptoms varies, parents and guardians must describe a student’s previous reaction(s) in detail. Knowing a student’s previous reaction will help school staff recognize potential symptoms of an anaphylactic reaction.Asthma and anaphylactic reactions
People with asthma can experience severe breathing problems if they are having an allergic reaction. It’s important that people with allergies keep their asthma under control.Students with allergies and asthma must:
- Keep their condition(s) well-managed.
- Have access to asthma medication and epinephrine auto-injector(s) at all times.
