Getting to know

An allergic emergency is the reaction that develops acutely in an allergic patient and implies a threat for the patient's life. Few reactions like this can occur: severe asthma attacks, anaphylaxis and angioedema of the throat and/or larynx. When such a reaction is accompanied by a drop in blood pressure, it is called 'Anaphylactic Shock'; this constitutes a short-term health risk (life-threatening) and demands immediate care. It is an immediate hypersensitivity reaction or a Type I response. Such a sudden reaction is due to the massive release of histamine by the mast cells. The signs may occur within a few minutes following contact with the allergen. This reaction can occur in patients of all ages. 

In such a situation, it is necessary to act quickly and calmly. It is very important to reassure the person, to give the first aid when knowing what to do and, anyway, to be effective in calling for Emergency First Aid as soon as possible. 

It is necessary to implement First Aid Procedures, i.e.:

• protect the person: have the person sit down or lie down in a place AWAY FROM ANY HAZARD, remove anything that can hinder his/her breathing (for example, clothing that is too tight or a foreign object in the mouth) and raise his/her legs
• alert the emergency medical services, paramedics by calling the fire department or the Mobile Medical Emergency Services
• stay with the person in distress while waiting for help to arrive.
• if the person in distress knows that he/she suffers from allergy or anaphylaxis and has emergency medication available this medication should be administered without delay. 

The person will be treated by a physician and then brought to a specialized centre in the case of an allergic emergency. 

If the person has taken a medicinal product or eaten a meal before the accident, the following should be done:

• keep the box of medicinal products.
• note the number of tablets of pills in the box and also how many did the patient ingested
• record the menu that the person has eaten.
• store the remainder of any food in the freezer.
• keep labels from food packages. 

If the incident involves an insect sting or bite, it is necessary to determine which insect was involved (for instance, a wasp, bee, hornet, horsefly, etc.) and to remove the stinger if it is still stuck in the person's skin. 

After emergency treatment, consultation with an allergist is necessary to determine all the circumstances which occurred prior to the event, from a few minutes to a few hours before. It is essential to find the agent that has triggered this sudden reaction and then to perform tests. 

Safety measures involve carrying of an allergy identity card (click here: “I Am Allergic” card) which mentions the agents to which the person is allergic, listing the agents to be avoided and informing of emergency therapy to be administered. If the event was serious and if a contact with this allergen is likely, then the patient should constantly have with them or in a place readily available an emergency medical kit.