Anaphylaxis is an allergic reaction that involves the airways, breathing and/or circulation – it is therefore potentially life threatening if it progresses rapidly.
It may still look like a typical, mild allergic reaction – you can still get hives, itching, lip or eye swelling.
There may just be a persistent cough, or a wheeze, or you may just feel dizzy.
Anaphylaxis can therefore look different in different people, at different times.
It is very difficult to predict if or when it will happen. Most people who have an immediate type allergy to a food are at risk, but anaphylaxis is rare, and severe anaphylaxis requiring hospital treatment even more rare.
A few things seem to increase the risk:
- Having asthma, especially asthma that is tricky to control with medication
- Being a teenager or young adult
- Doing exercise immediately before the reaction
- Being sleep deprived
- Peanut and nut allergies, especially cashew
The best treatment for anaphylaxis is an injection of adrenaline, from an Epipen for example, as soon as possible after the reaction starts.