Anaphylaxis Response in the School Setting
Awareness is the Cornerstone of Preventing an Allergic Reactions
Mar 18, 2009
“It has been estimated that more than 600,000 or 1% to 2% of Canadians are at risk of anaphylaxis (from food and insect allergy). Nearly 4% of the US population, or 1 in 25 Americans, is at risk for food allergy alone,“says the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunologyin a December 2005 article entitled “Anaphylaxis in Schools and Other Settings.”
Accoding to the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, anaphylaxis (pronounced anna-fill-axis) is a sudden and severe allergic reaction, which can be fatal, requiring immediate medical attention. It is an unusual and exaggerated allergic reaction to foreign substances, such as the venom of bees, wasps, hornets, pollens, molds, animal dander or an allergic reaction to medications, such as penicillin, antibiotics, local anesthetics, codeine, or other drugs.
The allergic reaction is caused by the body's overproduction of antibodies to the foreign substance. In extreme cases, the victim can go into anaphylactic shock in which widespread histamine release causes swelling, constriction of the bronchioles, heart failure, circulatory collapse and even death.
The foods most commonly implicated in food allergy include cow's milk, eggs, nuts, shellfish, soy products, wheat, corn, bananas, chicken and melons.
2-4% of School age Children are at Risk of Anaphylactic Reactions to Foods
Schools need to take steps to reduce students exposure to allergens which may cause an anaphylactic reaction and should have tools in place to enable them to respond appropriately to an anaphylactic incident. Signs and symptoms of a severe allergic reaction can occur within minutes of exposure to an offending substance. Reactions usually occur within two hours of exposure, but in rarer cases can develop hours later.
Specific warning signs as well as the severity and intensity of symptoms can vary from person to person. An anaphylactic reaction can involve any of the following symptoms, which may appear alone or in any combination, regardless of the triggering allergen:
- Hives
- Swelling
- Itching
- Redness or rash
- Wheezing or shortness of breath
- Throat tightness
- Chest pain or tightness
- Nasal congestion
- Trouble swallowing
- Nausea
- Pain/cramps
- Vomiting, diarrhea
- Pale/blue colour
- Weak pulse
- Dizzy/lightheaded
- Anxiety
Access to Life-Saving Epinephrine Auto-Injectors is Critical
Treatment of anaphylaxis is primarily to avoid substances one is allergic to such as certain foods, chemicals, drugs, etc. If the reaction is the result of something preventable such as an insect sting, treatment kits are available by prescription and should always be carried by people who know that they are prone to anaphylaxis. Treatment kits usually contain the drug epinephrine which counteracts the action of antigens in the body.
Anaphylaxis must be treated immediately with epinephrine, so medical help should be sought as quickly as possible. Other treatment, called desensitization (allergy shots), may reduce hypersensitivity to some substances.
Anaphylaxis can be a frightening, and sometimes life-threatening allergic reaction. Anaphylaxis training is a critical component of managing risk associated with anaphylaxis. Increasing education regarding anaphylaxis, while simultaneously reducing fear and uncertainty within the school community, is crucial in achieving the goal of reducing preventable serious reactions and deaths due to anaphylaxis.
