Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis is a medical emergencythat requires immediate medical assistance and treatment.
If someone has Anaphylaxis , you should:
If you're having an anaphylactic reaction, you can follow these steps yourself if you feel able to.
People with potentially serious allergies will often be given an adrenaline auto-injector to carry at all times. This can help stop an anaphylactic reaction becoming life threatening.
This should be used as soon as a serious reaction is suspected, either by the person experiencing anaphylaxis or someone helping them.
If you've been given an auto-injector,make sureyou're aware how to use it correctly.
There are three main types of adrenaline auto-injector, which are used in slightly different ways.
These are:
Instructions are also included on the side of each injector if you forget how to use it or someone else needs to give you the injection.
Someoneexperiencing anaphylaxis should be placed in a comfortable position.
If the person's breathing or heart stops, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) should be performed immediately.
You will need to go to hospital for observation usually for6-12 hours as the symptoms can occasionally return during this period.
While in hospital:
You should be able to go home when the symptoms are under control and it's thought they won't return quickly. This will usually be after a few hours, but may be longer if the reaction was severe.
You may be asked to take antihistamine and steroid tablets for a few days after leaving hospital to help stop your symptoms returning.
You will also probably be asked to attend a follow-up appointment with an allergy specialist so you can be given advice about how you can avoid further episodes of anaphylaxis .
An adrenaline auto-injector may be provided for emergency use between leaving hospital and attending the follow-up appointment.
Find out about the symptoms of anaphylaxis, how to treat it, why it happens and how to prevent it.
The symptoms include: feeling lightheadedness, breathing difficulties such as fast, shallow breathing, wheezing, a fast heartbeat, clammy skin, confusion and anxiety, collapsing or losing consciousness.
Find out what to do if you think you or someone else is experiencing anaphylaxis.
Find out what you can do to reduce your risk of experiencing anaphylaxis, including avoiding triggers and carrying an adrenaline auto-injector at all times.