Emergency care for anaphylactic shock - what you need to know

There are many people who suffer from one type of allergy or another. Every patient knows that an allergic attack is unpredictable, it begins suddenly, and the strength of the reaction can reach the stage of anaphylactic shock and be life-threatening. antihistamine tablets with them , and at the maximum - a whole mini-first aid kit with the necessary set of emergency aid for an allergic attack. He is always on the alert and clearly knows what to do if he feels the approach of an allergic attack. However, the patient is not always able to help himself, and then only the one who was nearby in difficult times can save him.

What should a person do next to a victim who needs emergency care for anaphylactic shock?

How to recognize anaphylactic shock

Anaphylactic shock (anaphylaxis) is an extreme degree of immune response that can lead to death. Usually anaphylaxis manifests itself in the time interval from 3-5 minutes to 4-5 hours after contact with the allergen.

The signs of anaphylactic shock are many times greater than the symptoms of a normal immune response and affect many body systems: the gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular, respiratory systems, skin, and mucous membranes.

Any allergen can cause the development of anaphylaxis, but the most common are:

• medicines;
• skin tests for allergens;
• bites of insects, snakes;
• food products;
• transfusion of blood and its components;
• vaccination;
• high physical activity;
• contact with aggressive substances.

To be able to help the patient, you need to be able to recognize the onset of anaphylaxis in time and provide the necessary assistance.

It is important to know: the earlier anaphylaxis manifested itself, the more severe the reaction itself proceeds. The sooner emergency care is provided for anaphylactic shock, the more chances the victim has to stay alive!

Signs of an anaphylactic reaction

Signs of anaphylactic shock are varied, but there are common manifestations that make it possible to suspect the development of anaphylaxis:

• redness of the skin, rash, severe itching;
• swelling of mucous surfaces;
• bronchopulmonary spasm;
• clouding of consciousness, fear of death, panic;
• nausea, vomiting, cramping abdominal pain;
• swelling of the eyes, lips, tongue, angioedema;
• a sharp decrease in blood pressure;
• pallor of the face, blue lips, cold sweat;
• dizziness, loss of consciousness.

Any suspicion of anaphylactic shock requires immediate contact with the ambulance service!

Assistance before the arrival of the medical team

In a situation of anaphylaxis, an unprepared person will probably not be able to provide full assistance to the victim, since emergency care for anaphylactic shock requires the use of medications and resuscitation. However, a person can and should be given all possible assistance.

When calling an ambulance, it is necessary to convey to the dispatcher information about the time of the onset of the attack and the emergency measures applied as accurately as possible, and it is also important to clearly follow all the recommendations.

Prior to the arrival of the ambulance, the following algorithm of actions must be applied:

1. Stop exposure to the allergen. If the victim is conscious, try to find out what caused the allergic attack. If the reaction is provoked by the administration of the drug, remove the needle, apply a tourniquet about 25 cm above the injection site and apply ice. When bitten by an insect - remove the sting, apply a tourniquet (when possible), apply ice. If the shock is caused by a food allergen, gastric lavage, etc.
2. Lay the victim on his back, raise his legs.
3. Turn your head to the side. If the victim is unconscious, clear the airways of mucus, vomit, etc. Extend the lower jaw, stick out the tongue. If there are dentures, they must be removed.
4. Monitor breathing, pulse, pressure, note the time of onset of an anaphylactic reaction.
5. Ensure that the victims receive the antihistamine medication that is available.
6. Provide fresh air supply. Open the window, unbutton your clothes.

If the victim has emergency drugs with him (the so-called adrenaline injectors "EpiPen", "Anapen", "Jext"), they must be administered according to the instructions. These drugs are sold in the form of a disposable pen. Adrenaline injectors are injected into the muscle of the inner thigh (it is important to get into the muscle, and not into the adipose tissue). Improvement in the patient's condition usually occurs within about 5 minutes. Otherwise, the re-injection of the injector is acceptable.

Medical emergency

Immediately upon the arrival of the team of doctors, the patient will be provided with qualified emergency care for anaphylactic shock, which will allow the patient to be taken to the medical facility without loss. The set of emergency measures includes:

• intravenous or intramuscular injection of adrenaline solution. If anaphylaxis is caused by the administration of a drug or an insect bite, the injection / bite site is additionally chipped with an adrenaline solution;
• the introduction of glucocorticosteroid drugs ("Prednisolone", "Hydrocortisone");
• injection of a solution of an antihistamine drug ("Diphenhydramine", "Suprastin");
• the use of "Euphyllin" for bronchopulmonary spasm;
• oxygen supply through a nasal catheter;
• resuscitation (closed heart massage, artificial respiration, artificial lung ventilation, tracheostomy).

Further, already in the conditions of a medical institution, the patient will be provided with a set of measures aimed at stopping the production of histamine, detoxifying the body, restoring the stable operation of the bronchopulmonary system, and normalizing blood pressure.

After hospitalization, the patient is recommended to be observed by a specialist for 2-3 weeks.

Prevention of reaction development

Anaphylactic shock can be prevented by following some rules:

• avoid contact with aggressive substances;
• carefully study the composition of products before use;
• avoid insect bites;
• read instructions for use of medicines;
• always carry antihistamines with you;
• carry an adrenaline injector;
• warn medical workers about the presence of allergies before the introduction of medicines, vaccines;
• strictly adhere to the treatment regimen prescribed by the allergist.

You can also write a note detailing exactly how emergency care should be provided for anaphylactic shock, and carry it with you in an accessible place, for example, in a purse, in a pocket, in a purse. Thus, it is possible to significantly facilitate the task of a person who is nearby in difficult times. Be healthy!