Anaphylaxis is a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction to an allergy trigger, and it requires immediate medical treatment. While it’s considered a rare condition, it’s estimated that up to 5% of people in the US have experienced an anaphylactic reaction in their lifetime—that’s 17.6 million people.
Anaphylaxis is a scary medical event to experience or witness. When we think of someone having an anaphylactic reaction, we likely picture someone encountering their trigger and instantly gasping for air, breaking out in hives, struggling with facial swelling, or undergoing other troubling symptoms. And while all of those are possible and likely symptoms, they are not always the first signs that the patient is entering a state of anaphylaxis. There are actually four stages of anaphylaxis that occur fairly rapidly after encountering the allergen trigger.
What Can Trigger Anaphylaxis?
Some allergens are more likely to cause a person to experience anaphylaxis than others.
Some of the most commonly reported allergens include:
- Peanuts
- Tree nuts
- Eggs
- Milk/dairy products
- Shellfish
- Fish
- Soy
- Wheat
- Insect venom (bees, wasps, hornets, and ants)
- Antibiotics
- Latex
What Are the Four Stages of Anaphylaxis?
Anaphylaxis occurs in stages that worsen the longer it goes untreated. It’s wise to know all four stages so that you can identify symptoms early and prevent the reaction from escalating to a life-threatening state.
Stage 1 of Anaphylaxis
In the first stage, the patient is likely to show mild symptoms after exposure to their allergen. Symptoms can appear within minutes or up to a few hours after exposure to the allergen.
Mild symptoms in the first stage can include:
- Itchy skin
- Itchy mouth
- Runny nose
- Overall “off” feeling
Stage 2 of Anaphylaxis
In stage 2, the patient’s mild symptoms worsen, and additional symptoms begin to arise. They will likely start to feel symptoms in other parts of the body, not just the face.
Additional symptoms that appear in the second stage can include:
- Rash and hive development
- Facial swelling
- Breathing difficulties
- Stomach cramps
- Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
Stage 3 of Anaphylaxis
In stage 3, symptoms from stages 1 and 2 continue to worsen, and the patient enters what’s called “anaphylactic shock.” The immune system is working overtime to fight off the allergen and expel it from the body. As a result, organs like the lungs and heart suffer, leading to dangerous additional symptoms.
New symptoms from stage 3 include:
- Weakened pulse
- Chest pain
- Dizziness/lightheadedness
Stage 4 of Anaphylaxis
Once the patient has entered anaphylactic shock, without treatment, they will experience the 4th stage of anaphylaxis. This is the life-threatening stage since blood pressure has dropped significantly, and the patient is unable to breathe in enough oxygen for the body to function correctly. The effects of stage 4 are so severe that it could quickly lead to a heart attack or death.
No new symptoms arise in stage 4.
How Do You Treat Anaphylaxis?
The most effective way to temporarily reduce symptoms of anaphylaxis is to administer an epinephrine injection (like an EpiPen) as soon as symptoms in stage 1 appear. However, continue to seek medical care from a hospital or clinic, as epinephrine is only a temporary solution that buys you or the patient you are with more time to find more permanent treatment.
What Do I Do if I Don’t Have Epinephrine During Anaphylaxis?
If you are with someone experiencing anaphylaxis but do not have access to epinephrine, follow these steps:
- Call 911 immediately.
- Lie the person face-up on the floor or ground.
- Loosen any tight-fitting clothing.
- Cover them with a blanket, if available.
- Turn them to the side if they begin to vomit or bleed from the mouth.
- If they stop breathing, begin CPR until paramedics arrive.
How to Perform CPR:
- Kneel beside the patient at their chest.
- With one hand on top of the other at the center of the chest, position your shoulders over your hands and lock your elbows.
- Push down on their chest about 2 inches and release. Repeat this at about 100-120 compressions per minute.
- Push to the beat of “Staying Alive” by the Bee Gees to maintain the right rhythm.
- Push for 30 seconds before providing two rescue breaths.
- Open the patient’s airway by tilting their head back and pushing their chin forward to open their mouth.
- Pinch their nose shut.
- Take a normal breath and put your mouth entirely over theirs to prevent any air from escaping.
- Breathe into their mouth for one second and release.
- Ensure the chest rises and falls with your breathing. If it doesn’t, the airway is blocked. Reposition their head to ensure it’s open.
- Allow the air to exit before providing a second breath.
- Keep breathing time between compressions to less than 10 seconds.
- Repeat this cycle of 30 seconds of compressions and 10 seconds of breaths until responders arrive or until the patient revives.
Allergy patients cannot risk the dangers of experiencing anaphylaxis or its 4 stages. If you have allergies, talk to the team at Langford Allergy.
Dr. Langford, Dr. Mathew, and our team of allergy specialists offer specialized care and treatment to allergy patients, including those who suffer from anaphylaxis. We create individualized and effective treatment and management plans that promote safety, no matter what allergens you might encounter.
Schedule an allergy appointment today: 478-787-4728
Langford Allergy delivers allergy, asthma, and immunodeficiency care to patients throughout Middle Georgia, including:
- Bonaire, GA
- Byron, GA
- Forsyth, GA
- Fort Valley, GA
- Gray, GA
- Macon, GA
- Milledgeville, GA
- Perry, GA
- Warner Robins, GA
And other surrounding areas.
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