Anaphlaxis Can Be Fatal

TheEpiPen

Anaphylaxis

Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that can be fatal. It can affect multiple organs including the heart and the lungs and can be triggered by food and food additives, insect stings, medicines, vaccines, latex products, blood transfusion, and pain medicines. Some of the symptoms for this disease consist of: hives, tingling in the mouth, swelling in the tongue and throat, difficulty breathing, abdominal cramps, vomiting or diarrhea, eczema or rash, coughing or wheezing, loss of consciousness, and dizziness. Doctors such as innnunologists and allergists specialize in the diagnosis of anaphylaxis. The diagnoses of individuals with anaphylaxis help lessen the risk factors that can result into having anaphylactic shock. Doctors can also use skin tests and sometimes blood tests to find the allergen that causes an individual to go into anaphylactic shock. The doctor can prescribe appropriate medical treatment thereafter. Cv.fWr!Gc ).

!:::_ History of Anaphylaxis

The history of anaphylaxis started 100 years ago on Prince Albert I of Monaco's yacht.

Prince Albert I invited two Parisian scientists to perform studies on the toxin that was found and produced by the tentacles of a jellyfish, specifically the Portuguese Man of War. These two scientists were Charles Richet and Paul Portier. They were able to isolate this toxin and later ~ tried to vaccinate dogs. They did this so that they could fmd a protection, or "prophylaxis," ' against the toxin. They found out that subsequent, small doses of the toxin resulted in a new dramatic illness. This illness involved rapid onset of breathing difficulty and resulted in death within 30 minutes. Richet and Portier called this new found disease "anaphylaxis" or "against pro... ... middle of paper ...

...se of this jump in allergies, it was vital that the EpiPen be created. Since the EpiPen was patented and made public; millions of prescriptions have been filled for the EpiPen. A study found that doctors prescribed 1.4 million EpiPens in 2003, and by 2007 that number had reached

1.9 million, a 36 percent rise within a short four year time span. With this overflow of needed

Epinephrine, many lives have been saved due to the immediate effects of the EpiPen upon an

Anaphylaxis attack. Though this treatment does not fully treat the allergic reaction, it eases and slows the symptoms that could easily kill lives if not given instantly upon attack. Some symptoms include reduction in swelling and the opening of blocked airways. Now, millions of people around the world can live at ease knowing that they can feel safe with their daily lives without being worried abo~hylaxis.