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Allergic reactions, anaphylaxis
Marek Kovář
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Learning objectives
• The student will learn the symptoms of allergic reactions.
• The student will learn first aid for allergies and anaphylaxis.
• The student will learn what an allergy first aid kit is and how to use
an epinephrine pen correctly.
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What is an allergic reaction?
̶ Exaggerated reaction of the human immune system to a foreign
substance - the so-called "Allergen"
̶ The most common allergens include:
̶ Plant pollens, dust, mold, mites
̶ Pets
̶ Animal poison
̶ Foodstuffs
̶ Medicines
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What are the symptoms of an allergic reaction?
̶ Local – a local reaction caused by the allergen encountering the body
̶ Skin – swelling, redness, paleness
̶ Mucosal – cold, cough, lacrimation
̶ General
̶ Skin – urticaria, angioedema, oedema, pruritus
̶ Digestive system – nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, convulsions
̶ Respiratory system – stridor, hoarseness, cough, dyspnoea
̶ Circulatory system – hypotension, heart arrythmias
̶ Nervous system – syncope, convulsions, alterations of consciousness
̶ Shivering
̶ Anaphylactic reaction
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What is anaphylaxis?
̶ Life threatening situation !!!
̶ An allergic reaction with a severe course, affecting organism in
general
̶ One of the causes of shock development
̶ Can cause
̶ swelling of the airways, shortness of breath until respiratory arrest
̶ drop in blood pressure, shock until circulatory arrest
̶ fall in consciousness, malaise, unconsciousness
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When to call 911?
General
symptoms
appear
History of
severe allergic
reaction
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First aid
Skin
symptoms
• Avoid exposure or elimination of the allergen
• Physically cool the affected area
• Observe vital signs
Dyspnoea
• Sitting or semi-sitting position, secure airways
• Call 911
• Apply an epinephrine pen
Patient
collapse
• Lying position with raised lower limbs – ‘anti-shock position’
• Call 911
• Apply an epinephrine pen
unconscious
• Follow the ‘ABC’ algorithm
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First aid kit with allergy medication
̶ An allergy sufferer can be equipped with her/his own medication
̶ The allergy sufferer himself is instructed on how to take the
medication.
̶ The kit should also include instructions on what medications, what
form, and what dose to administer
̶ These are most often as pills, inhalers and epinephrine injection
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Epinephrine injection / pen
̶ Used for intramuscular administration of adrenaline in an anaphylactic reaction
̶ The injection is in a form that the allergy sufferer can self-administer
̶ The site of application is usually the thigh muscle
̶ Leave the injection at the injection site for 10 seconds
After 5-15 minutes without improvement, the 2nd dose can be given
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Epinephrine injection / pen
̶ Video application of an epinephrine pen in First Aid e-learning.
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Biphasic anaphylactic reaction
̶ In some cases, a second anaphylactic reaction occurs
̶ It most often occurs a few hours after anaphylaxis
̶ The allergy sufferer must be monitored in a monitored bed for at
least 24 hours after anaphylaxis
̶ Always call 911, even if the anaphylactic symptoms go away
Immediate
response
Second
wave
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Take home message
̶ Severe forms of allergies and anaphylaxis are life-threatening conditions
̶ Carefully monitor the condition of the allergy sufferer, respond to the onset of
general manifestations of allergy
̶ Call 911 in time
̶ Find out an allergic history and possibly arrange an allergy first aid kit
̶ In case of dyspnoea or worsening of consciousness,
apply an adrenaline pen
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Learning outcomes
• The student can describe the process of an anaphylactic reaction.
• The student knows the contents of the allergy first aid kit and
knows what it is for.
• The student can describe the procedure for the application of
epinephrine pen.
Lékařská fakulta Masarykovy univerzity
2021