Anaphylactic Reaction To Pampas Grass
Posted by admin on 01 Jul 2008 at 12:59 am | Tagged as: Allergy Tips
Anaphylactic reaction or Anaphylaxis is an extremely violent allergic reaction of a person who has got into contact with a substance he’s allergic to. This reaction may occur when the body gets in touch with the allergen for the first time in life, or at a later contact, after a previous series of smaller, repeated contacts spread over time.
If it happens at the first allergen contact, and if the patient manages to get to the hospital, and he is saved by epinephrine administration, he is warned. Now he knows that he must avoid getting in contact with that killer substance for the rest of his life. As this is not always possible, persons who are known to develop anaphylactic reactions to a widespread allergen should always carry with them an epinephrine pen, and give himself a shot immediately after the unwanted contact. For example, if you have a severe allergy to bees, you shouldn’t by all means get close to hives. But as bees are pretty much everywhere in some areas, you may end up with one of them stinging you. Then, if you don’t take the epinephrine shot in a matter of seconds after the incident, you are in big trouble, because the allergic reaction will be so violent that a half an hour could be lethal.
Pampass grass, or Cortaderia, is a fast growing, perennial plant which grown tall like 15-20 inches and which has silky flower heads which can have different colors, like yellow, purple, pink or white. Seeded in early spring, the plants will be mature and blossom by August. Pampass grass is resistant to lack of water, so it may grow well even in dry climate conditions. It is an ornamental plant, but it is a real danger for allergic persons, because it produces a lot of pollen, which is one of the most common allergens.
In case you are known to be allergic and you live in an area with lots of Pampas grass, you can go to your doctor and ask to be tested against this specific allergen, in order to make sure you won’t develop an anaphylactic reaction to it in the future. If you test positive, probably your doctor would recommend you to carry an epinephrine pen ,and he’d teach uyou how to use it in case symptoms occur.
No related posts.
I was cleaning out some tall grasses for a customer and received many tiny cuts from the sharp edges of the blades. The cuts were itchy and painful. I noticed that the stalks had tiny “hairs” on them. The next day, the cuts were still irritated and I woke up with my right eyelid all swollen. (This also happens whenever I have even the smallest contact with poison ivy.) The next day I woke up and both eyes were swollen half shut and my hands and neck are itching like crazy. When I have poison ivy, I usually can manage with Loratadine and hydrocortisone cream. So far, I’m not getting much relief from the Loratadine. I tried frozen peas on my eyes for over an hour, but that didn’t help at all. I’m trying to avoid a doctor visit ($$), hence my visit to the Internet. I’m miserable! I never guessed that those ornamental grasses could be so evil! By the way, I don’t really have any other allergies, except maybe some mold issues when rooting around in old mulch. Just thought this might help someone else or at least let them know that they aren’t the only one with the problem.
Hey, Kathy, take care, because in case you suffer an anaphylactic shock, it might kill you in as little as two minutes, because the airways would swell so much, that you won’t be able to breathe anymore. Aren’t medical emergencies free in your place?