How Long to Observe After Severe Allergic Reaction (Anaphylaxis)?

A severe allergic reaction affecting multiple different body systems is known as anaphylaxis . Such anaphylactic reactions adversely affect the skin/mucosa, breathing, gastrointestinal, heart rate, and blood pressure. The key thing to remember is that an "ordinary" allergic reaction is localized whereas anaphylaxis is general affecting beyond one body system. With anaphylaxis, epipen administration is one of the first and BEST intervention. Other complementary medications to t…

9/24/2017 0

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What are the Most Common Severe Drug-Induced Anaphylaxis?

Image by James Heilman, MD from Wikipedia Interesting paper came out listing the most common severe drug-induced anaphylaxis . From a database of 333 patients who suffered from anaphylaxis, • Anaphylactic shock (76.6%) • Severe systemic reactions (10.5%) • Acute laryngeal edema (9%) • Severe bronchospasm (2.1%) • Fatal in 6 cases (1.8%) There were 270 cases (81.1%) of ambulatory anaphylaxis. Sixty-three cases (18.9%) occurred during anesthesia. 84 drugs were identified as being …

6/08/2013 0

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Another Egg-Free Flu Vaccine Approved by FDA

First there was Flucelvax  introduced in 2012 and now there is Flublock , both considered egg-free for those concerned with egg allergy in traditional flu vaccines. Rather than being cultured in eggs, Flucelvax is cultured in mammalian cells and Flublock is grown in caterpillar cells injected by an insect virus containing the flu gene. Both vaccines are approved for use in people 18 years and older. Why the concern of egg-allergic patients with the traditional flu vaccine used to defend…

1/17/2013 1

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Egg Free Flu Vaccine Approved by FDA

Why the concern of egg-allergic patients with the flu vaccine used to defend against both seasonal and pandemic flu virus ? Traditionally, the flu shot vaccine (both H1N1 and seasonal) are grown inside eggs which is where this concern arises. It also doesn't help that the pre-flu shot questionnaire specifically asks about egg allergy. Though egg-based, during vaccine production the egg protein is filtered out such that there should be no egg contaminants in the final vaccine. However, i…

12/02/2012 0

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Is Flu Shot Safe for Patients With Egg Allergy?

It is the season for flu shots... and with that... we invariably get phone calls from patients asking whether it is safe to receive the flu shot if they are egg allergic. Generally speaking, the blunt answer is that it is safe... even if you have a life-threatening egg allergy. Why the concern? The flu shot vaccine (both H1N1 and seasonal) are grown inside eggs which is where this concern arises. It also doesn't help that the pre-flu shot questionnaire specifically asks about egg allerg…

10/09/2012 0

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FDA Approves New Epinephrine Injector That Talks

Sanofi US has introduced a new epinephrine injector (competitor to the more commonly known EpiPen made by Dey Pharma LP) that is equipped with audio and visual cues that helps a patient or care-giver administer epinephrine in cases of a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis). Known as Auvi-Q , it was FDA approved Aug 13, 2012, and should soon become available for purchase by prescription. Just like EpiPen, Auvi-Q comes in two different dosages of epinephrine... 0.3mg for patients who we…

8/22/2012 0

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