Anaphylaxis is a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction that can occur within seconds or minutes of exposure to an allergen like bee venom or peanuts. Common symptoms involve the skin, respiratory tract, heart, and gastrointestinal system, such as hives, difficulty breathing, dizziness, and nausea. Epinephrine is the first line treatment and should be injected immediately to help lower the risk of complications. Antihistamines and bronchodilators may also be used to treat specific symptoms of anaphylaxis.

1. Anaphylaxis
Hasan Radi Al-Shabaan
214010094

2. Learning Objectives
• 1/ What is anaphylaxis? And what are its clinical
features?
• 2/ What is the cause of anaphylaxis? And what is its
pathophysiology?
• 3/ First-Aid management of anaphylaxis?
• 4/ Which groups of drugs are used and why?

3. Hypersensitivity
• Exaggerated and inappropriate immune
response, resulting in tissue injury.

4. Types of hypersensitivity

5. What is Anaphylaxis
• Anaphylaxis is a severe, potentially life-threatening
allergic reaction.
• It can occur within seconds or minutes of exposure
to something you're allergic to, such as the venom
from a bee sting or a peanut.

6. Pathophysiology

7. Clinical features
• The most common organ systems involved include
the cutaneous, respiratory, cardiovascular, and
gastrointestinal (GI) systems.
Difficulty
breathing DizzinessNausea
swelling of the
tongue
Itchinghives

9. Causes of anaphylaxis
• Foods:
• peanuts, seafood, milk
• Medications:
• penicillin, NSAIDs
• Insect stings:
• bees, wasps, ants
• Less common causes:
• Latex
• Exercise

10. First-Aid management of
anaphylaxis
• 1. Seek emergency care
• Call for help
• 2. Inject Epinephrine Immediately
• Inject epinephrine into outer muscle of the thigh.
• 3. Do CPR if the Person Stops Breathing

11. groups of drugs used
• Epinephrine: help maintain blood pressure,
antagonize effects of released mediators, and
prevent further release of mediators.
• Antihistamines (Diphenhydramine, Hydroxyzine):
primarily effective against cutaneous effects of
anaphylaxis.
• H2 Receptor Antagonists (Cimetidine): block effects
of released histamine at H2 receptors, thereby
treating vasodilation.
• Bronchodilators (Albuterol): These agents stimulate
beta2-adrenergic receptors in bronchial smooth
muscle, causing bronchodilation.

12. Summary
• Definition of Anaphylaxis
• Clinical features of anaphylaxis
• Pathophysiology of anaphylaxis
• Causes of Anaphylaxis
• First-aid management
• Group of drugs used to treat anaphylaxis

13. References
• Abbas Basic Immunology 4th edition
• http://emedicine.medscape.com