What is an anaphylactic shock?
Anaphylactic shock is the body's response to the release of a large number of antibodies.
With a bite, a foreign substance enters the human body - the antigen. To remove this antigen, the body begins to produce antibodies, which, sticking together with particles of a foreign substance, drop out in the form of a sediment and are then removed from the body, which is a normal reaction of the organism, for example, with a bite of a wasp or bee.
But sometimes at introduction of a foreign substance the organism throws out huge quantity of antibodies which settle on walls of bodies and fabrics. When the antigen is reintroduced into the body, the antibodies are activated.
When the antigen and antibody combine, active elements (serotonin, histamine, bradykinin) are released, which worsen the blood circulation in small blood vessels, and increase their high permeability. Also there are spasms of organs and much more. This leads to the fact that the liquid part of the blood goes out, and the vessels are clogged. Blood accumulates, and the brain and internal organs do not get enough oxygen, so a loss of consciousness occurs.
Manifestation of anaphylactic shock.
Most often anaphylactic shock manifests itself sharply, lightning fast.
With a mild degree of manifestation, a person feels growing fatigue. There is itching, redness of the skin, tightness and heaviness in the chest, shortness of breath, runny nose, sneezing, dizziness, headache, a feeling of heat.
If the severity of anaphylactic shock is average, reddening of the skin appears, which is replaced by pallor, blood pressure sharply decreases, dizziness and headaches appear. Perhaps worsening of the gastrointestinal tract (vomiting, nausea, heartburn, abdominal pain, diarrhea) and kidneys (frequent urination). Also worsening of the condition on the neurological background: dizziness, blurred vision, ringing or noise in the head, hearing loss, anxiety.
A severe degree is manifested by a decrease in cardiac activity. The blood pressure drops sharply, it is almost impossible to feel the pulse. The patient pales and loses consciousness. Pupils dilate, reaction to light is practically absent. If the pressure continues to fall, then the heart stops, and the breath stops. The duration of such a reaction can take minutes and end in a lethal outcome.
After the case of anaphylactic shock, the symptoms of allergy disappear or decrease for 2-3 weeks. Subsequently, the amount of antibodies produced increases, and with the following manifestations of anaphylactic shock, the course of the disease is more difficult.
Possible complications later anaphylactic shock.
After anaphylactic shock, complications of varying severity may occur. So, often there were complications of liver diseases (hepatitis), heart muscles (myocarditis), various diseases of the nervous system and much more. Chronic diseases can also worsen.
Medical care for a patient with anaphylactic shock.
The help with shock should be provided quickly and in a clear sequence. To begin with, you must remove the source of allergen intake into the body. So, for example, when you bite a bee, you need to pull out the stinger with a poisonous pouch. After removing the foreign substance, if possible, apply a tourniquet above the bite site. Usually, the place of the bite is cured by adrenaline for the slow spread of the allergen in the body.
After the undertaken actions it is necessary to put the patient in such position, to prevent ingestion of vomit into the body, respiratory ways, and also to prevent swallowing of the tongue. It is also necessary to provide the patient with sufficient intake of oxygen into the body. To do this, you can use an oxygen pillow.
In the future, a special treatment is used to neutralize the formulations of biologically active substances after the reaction to the antigen. Normal work of the cardiovascular system and airways is restored, the permeability of the vascular wall decreases and the risk of complications in the future decreases.
Prevention of anaphylactic shock.
To anticipate the appearance of anaphylactic shock is almost impossible. In order to reduce the risk of its occurrence, it is necessary to prevent the entry into the body of foreign substances that can cause an allergic reaction, and be careful about the ongoing allergies. After suffering anaphylactic shock, you need to limit contact with the pathogen of allergy.