This is a question we’ve got from one of our readers: can dog allergy cause death?
The answer is that any allergy can cause death. It all depends on how violent the allergic response to the allergent exposure is. To make it more clear, one can have a mild allergy to mold, let’s say, and experience only slight symptoms of irritation, itching or sneezing. The same person can have an extremely severe allergy to wasp venom, without even knowing it. In the moment he gets stung by a wasp and his body gets in contact with the venom, a raging allergic reaction is triggered, with major implications for all vital systems functions, like breathing or blood circulation. The immune system wrongly assumes that the body is in major danger, and it starts a real war against the enemy, with the purpose of neutralizing it as soon as possible. This is called anaphylaxis, or anaphylactic shock, and it is a major affection which needs emergency treatment with epinephrine. There’s very little time from the occurrence time until death installs: only a few minutes, so in case this happens to somebody near you, don’t wait: call the paramedics. If you’re lucky, they’d save the person’s life.
Usually, people who were diagnosed with severe, life threatening allergies, must carry with them an epinephrine pen, and administer themselves the drug immediately after they’ve been exposed to the allergen.
If you know that you or one of your family members is allergic, you’d better test yourself and tell the other members of your family to get tested too, so you minimize the risk of suffering an anaphylaxis.
Even though you know that you only have a mild allergy to some substance, like dog dander, you still have to be careful. First, you shouldn’t have a dog at all, but if you do, you must watch yourself and call an ambulance at the slightest signs that your allergy worsens. Repeated exposure to the allergy-triggering factor leads in time to the aggravation of the symptoms, up to a severe or even lethal level.
So, allergy is not at all a joke and it should be treated seriously. Never ignore it, or you’ll pay a price with many times can be too high, for a disease which can be kept under control for a lifetime.
Categories: Dog Allergy
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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.
Categories: Allergy Tips
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