San José, Costa Rica. July 2015.

Abdominal pain, dizziness, vertigo, abdominal pain, skin redness or rash, cough, nausea and vomit, are symptoms of anaphylaxis, a type of allergic response that can go from slight to serious, depending on the patient, and may even cause death.

According to Dr. Eduardo Ruiz, general doctor of the Clínica Bíblica Hospital, “an anaphylactic reaction is an exaggerated response to an allergy. They are usually very aggressive and serious, since for example, the bronchi close up and the arteries dilate, which causes breathing difficulties.”

The urgency to act in seconds is because one of these reactions could kill a person. Food such as shrimp, some medications and a bee bite, often offer only seconds for injecting epinephrine or steroids to open the airways, reduce inflammation and increase blood pressure, so that the patient can breathe again.

Anyone can experience this situation, from children up to senior adults. The only necessary condition being that the person suffers from some allergy. The anaphylaxis is not frequent, and the persons who are allergic to insect bites, certain foods or some medications, are the most likable to suffer it.

“Once we have reached this point, it is going to continue occurring. Whoever suffered from an allergy and anaphylaxis, can never again be exposed because it will surely happen again. This is scaled, it is going to be more serious every time and the only way to prevent this is to avoid whatever we are allergic to”, said Dr. Ruiz.

Amongst the most frequent symptoms are:

• Difficulty breathing
• Throat oppression or the feeling that the airways are closing up
• Hoarseness or problems for speaking
• “Whistling" when breathing
• Nasal congestion or cough
• Nauseas, abdominal pain and/or vomits
• Accelerated pulse and/or cardiac frequency
• Itching, numbness, tingling, inflammation and/or redness of the skin

If you have any of the symptoms above, go immediately to a hospital. Remember, prevention is the best way of not putting our lives at risk.

For further information or for requesting medical attention, please call the number 2522-1000, or write to the email citas@clinicabiblica.com or contact us via chat at the website: www.clinicabiblica.com.