Synonyms
Definition
Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency that requires immediate diagnosis and treatment in order to avoid life-threatening consequences. Definitions of anaphylaxis have conflicted over the years; however, recent clarity has emerged based on consensus symposia. In simple terms, “anaphylaxis is a serious allergic reaction that is rapid in onset and may cause death” [1]. More detailed revisions of the definition [1] for health professionals using clinical criteria suggest that anaphylaxis is highly likely when any one of the following three criteria occurs:
- 1.
Acute onset of an illness (minutes to several hours) with involvement of the skin and/or mucosal tissue (e.g., hives/urticaria, pruritus, flushing, swollen lips, tongue, or uvula) associated with at least one of the following:
- (a)
Respiratory compromise (e.g., dyspnea, wheeze, and/or stridor)
- (b)
Reduced blood pressure
- (c)
Associated symptoms of organ dysfunction (e.g., hypotonia, syncope,...
- (a)
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References
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© 2012 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
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Rowe, B.H. (2012). Anaphylactic Shock. In: Vincent, JL., Hall, J.B. (eds) Encyclopedia of Intensive Care Medicine. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-00418-6_800
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-00418-6_800
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