Anaphylaxis

Anaphylaxis is a severe reaction your body can have to an allergy. It is very dangerous to have to deal with this. That is why it is important to take immediate action if you are dealing with anaphylaxis.

What is anaphylaxis?

Anaphylaxis is a spontaneous reaction of your body to a substance. This could be due to a food, a medicine or an insect bite. Another name for anaphylaxis is anaphylactic shock. Anaphylaxis can have unpleasant consequences, including cardiac arrest. That is why it is important to recognize this as quickly as possible.

How do I recognize anaphylaxis?

Anaphylaxis can be recognized by a number of symptoms. Common symptoms include:

• Itching, red skin and swollen skin
• Hives
• Swellings in the throat
• Itchy lips, tongue, throat and/or eyes
• Congested or runny nose
• Shortness of breath
• Pressure on the chest
• Sneezing and coughing
• Abdominal cramps, nausea and diarrhea
• An abnormal heartbeat
• Low blood pressure
• Dizziness and fainting
• Shock

If multiple serious forms of these complaints occur, it is called anaphylaxis. Because your immune system has a severe reaction to a substance, you suffer from these complaints. The substance that causes this is also called an allergen.

Can I do something about it myself?

The only thing you can do yourself against anaphylaxis is to look at the allergens that may be in your food. By looking at this, you know what to expect and where.

Can the pharmacist do anything for me?

If you suffer from anaphylaxis, the pharmacist can help you. The best way to get rid of this reaction is to place an injection of adrenaline into the body. The adrenaline relieves symptoms of an allergic reaction. People who suffer from anaphylaxis often have a syringe of adrenaline from the pharmacist at hand. If the food contains an allergen, it must be used immediately.

Which medications are used for anaphylaxis?

There are no medications that can cure anaphylaxis. You can prevent an allergic reaction. You mainly do this by looking at what you eat.

If you are allergic to an insect bite, it is important to prevent the bite as much as possible. You can do this by staying away from certain insects. You will often also receive an automatic adrenaline injector from the pharmacist. This allows you or someone close to you to inject adrenaline into your thigh.

Can I buy medicines online?

It is possible to buy medicines online. If you want to do this, it is important to check which website you do this on. It is best to choose medicines from an online pharmacist who has registered with the government. Here you can usually buy safe medicines.

Buy medicines without a prescription

It is not possible to buy the medicines you need for anaphylaxis without a prescription. It is possible to use certain apps or websites to keep track of what certain allergens may contain. This ensures that you cannot simply ingest allergens.