Anaphylaxis is a rapid and severe allergic reaction, and one of the scariest health emergencies a parent can face. It requires immediate medical attention.
Anaphylaxis starts when the immune system mistakenly responds to a relatively harmless substance as if it were a serious threat, triggering the release of histamine and other chemicals that cause a number of symptoms – some of them life-threatening.
Sadly, anaphylaxis appears to be on the rise among children in the United States. Knowing how to recognize a severe allergic reaction and what to do if it happens can save your child's life.
People sometimes refer to anaphylaxis as anaphylactic shock. Both are the result of a severe allergic reaction, but they're not quite the same. When a child goes into anaphylactic shock, his blood pressure becomes unstable and he may feel dizzy or faint. Anaphylaxis can lead to anaphylactic shock, but it doesn't always.
