Anaphylaxie und anaphylaktischer schock

Anaphylaxis is the term used to describe an extreme and immediate allergic reaction that is an acute systemic reaction and as such can affect the entire organism and which is accompanied by different symptoms depending on its severity; four grades of severity are differentiated. The most frequent triggers are medications, foodstuffs and additives, insect venoms, airborne allergens and latex, but physical factors can also be involved. The prevalence is estimated at 8-10/100,000 per year, and the frequency of anaphylaxis with lethal outcome is recorded as 1:10,000. The acute treatment depends on the intensity of the clinical symptoms and includes both general measures and the administration of appropriate medications. The medication of choice is adrenaline. In the case of stage IV, which means manifest respiratory or circulatory arrest, immediate and correct resuscitation must be started. In general, in anaphylaxis all emergency treatment should be carried out without recourse to anything made of natural latex. Prevention of any relapse involves avoiding allergens; the patients should be given adequate information and be provided with an allergy pass and a survival kit of medication suitable for self-administration.