What is Anaphylaxis?

Anaphylaxis (also known as anaphylactic shock) is a severe potentially fatal allergic reaction.

Anaphylaxis is your body’s immune system reacting badly to the presence of a foreign object (e.g. food or a substance) it wrongly perceives as a threat.

Your whole body is affected, usually within minutes of contact with an allergen but sometimes the reaction can take place hours later.

There is a sudden drop in blood pressure and narrowing of the airways.

Anaphylactic shock can lead to death due to obstructed breathing or extremely low blood pressure. Anaphylaxis can affect many of the systems of the body, including:

• airways
• breathing
• Circulation (of the blood)

This is characterised by:

• Rapidly developing life-threatening airway and/or breathing problems
• Circulation problems usually associated with skin and mucosal changes.