Anaphylactic Allergic Reaction Research Paper
Nausea, hives, trouble breathing, wheezing, and swollen tongue are signs and symptoms of a food allergy. An allergic reaction or hypersensitivity reaction occurs when your body's immune system overreacts to allergens or everyday substances such as peanuts as though they are harmful to your body. Sometimes, exposure to an allergen can cause a life-threatening allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis. Food-induced anaphylaxis is dangerous because the body reacts swiftly, with the potential to cause death in an otherwise healthy person.
“Each year in the U.S., 200,000 people require emergency medical care for allergic reactions to food” (“Facts and Statistics”). Food allergies and the havoc it wreaks on your body are dangerous:
“More than 40 percent of children with food allergies and more than half of adults with food allergies have experienced a severe allergic reaction such as anaphylaxis. Medical procedures to treat anaphylaxis resulting from food allergy increased by 380 percent between 2007 and 2016. (“Facts and Statistics”)
Although there are four types of allergic reactions, the focus of this paper is Type 1, anaphylaxis. In fact, if someone is susceptible to allergies, during their first exposure to a specific allergen (such as peanuts), the body responds by producing allergic (IgE) antibodies. For example, during initial exposure to peanuts, the immune system learns to recognize the peanuts as a foreign invader, but the body does not react. But with anaphylaxis, when exposed to the substance again, the immune system has an amplified response. As a result, a cellular reaction occurs in the body leading to a physical chain reaction.
When a person ingests or comes in physical contact with an allergen like peanuts, peptides are released and attach to IgE antibodies. IgE binds to white blood cells called basophils in the bloodstream and to mast cells in the tissues. Mast cells store messenger substances that trigger inflammatory reactions. (Williams)
“Each type of IgE has specific "radar" for each type of allergen” (“Immunoglobulin E (IgE) | AAAAI”). It explains why people have specific allergies; they can be allergic to nuts but not to milk or seafood. Therefore, there is a specific peanut IgE for those with peanut allergies.
When extremely allergic people experience the allergen again, the basophils and mast cells with IgE on their surface release the histamine (stored in mast cells), prostaglandins, and leukotrienes, causing inflammation in the surrounding tissues. (Williams)
At this point, a person's body will be having a “difficult time breathing; there will be shortness of breath, wheezing, difficulty swallowing, and possible cough” (Williams). Unquestionably, these are all symptoms of the chain reaction going on within a person’s body, “the histamine causes blood vessels to dilate, allowing increased blood flow and a drop in blood pressure. Other symptoms include a rapid or weak pulse and heart palpitations” (Williams)
In this situation, the lack of oxygen and blood to the organs causes the body to go into anaphylactic shock, and reaction time must be quick; because it is life-threatening. By now, a person is experiencing additional symptoms as well, hives on their arms, face in or around their mouth, itchy tongue, flushed skin, possible vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, and fainting.
It is important to realize, anaphylactic shock progresses swiftly; peaking within 5 to 30 minutes, so call 911 immediately, then retrieve epinephrine because it can save a life. Lie down when using the epi-pen, inject it directly into the thigh, the best location, and elevate the legs. The epi-pen is an injection of adrenaline into a person’s system that reverses the symptoms of anaphylaxis,
For example, anaphylaxis causes a person's blood pressure to drop because the blood vessels dilate. Epinephrine causes the blood vessels to constrict, raising blood pressure. In addition, anaphylaxis causes your airways to narrow, making breathing difficult. Epinephrine relaxes the muscles of the airways so that the person can breathe. (Miller)
Without delay, a trip to the hospital is necessary to make sure there is not another reaction and necessitate a physician’s exam.
To determine if a person is allergic to certain foods such as peanuts there are a few different testing opinions available:
First is the skin prick test, which measures the presence of IgE antibodies for the suspect food. “First, they put a small drop of liquid containing the food on the skin and prick it. Then they watch for a reaction. Usually, it is a small bump that turns red. That means the person is allergic. The second is a blood test; a doctor will take a sample of the person’s blood and expose it to different allergens.” (Cassoobhoy, MD, MPH)
Thirdly, is the food test, which takes place in a controlled environment, however it is less used because if someone is severely allergic, it can cause anaphylaxis. According to Peter Marks, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research the most compelling evidence for peanut allergy research is the fact that “Peanut allergies affect approximately one million children in the U.S. and only one out of five of these children will outgrow their allergy” (Office of the Commissioner). Because there is no cure for peanut allergies, individuals must do their best to avoid exposure in order to prevent mild to life-threatening reactions. The good news is:
The FDA approved Palforzia Allergen Powder to mitigate allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, that may occur with accidental exposure to peanuts. Treatment with Palforzia is used by individuals ages four through seventeen years with a confirmed diagnosis of peanut allergy and continued in individuals four years of age and older. Those who take Palforzia must continue to avoid peanuts in their diets. (Office of the Commissioner)
In addition, Stanford Medicine is also working on an injection that will allow a person who is allergic to peanuts to “eat a nut’s worth of peanut protein two weeks later. 73% of the people who received the antibody, all of whom had severe peanut allergies, could eat a modest amount of peanut protein fifteen days after a single injection of the treatment” (Digitale). This research is exciting and gives hope to those suffering from peanut allergies because it is not limited to children; additionally, if a person accidentally ingests peanuts, you do not have to fear death from anaphylactic shock.
In conclusion, the person’s immune system is supposed to defend its body against foreign substances such as bacteria, virus, chemicals etc.
In a normal person When the body senses foreign substances (called antigens), the immune system recognizes the antigens and gets rid of them. In a person with allergies, they have extra IgE antibodies and their body views normal substances such as peanuts as a toxic allergen. Consequently, exposure to the allergen can lead to disastrous chemical reactions with a person’s body causing anaphylactic shock and potential death.
Cite page
Cassoobhoy, MD, MPH, Arefa. “Testing for Food Allergies.” WebMD, 1 Mar. 2006, www.webmd.com/allergies/food-allergy-test.
Digitale, Erin. “Antibody Injection Stops Peanut Allergy for 2 to 6 Weeks, Study Shows.” News Center, Stanford School of Medicine, 14 Nov. 2019, https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2019/11/antibody-injection-stops-peanut-allergy-for-2-to-6-weeks--study-.html
“Facts and Statistics.” Food Allergy Research & Education, www.foodallergy.org/resources/facts-and-statistics. Accessed 30 Apr. 2021.
“Immunoglobulin E (IgE) | AAAAI.” The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, www.aaaai.org/conditions-and-treatments/conditions-dictionary/immunoglobulin-e-(ige). Accessed 1 May 2021.
Miller, Sara. “How Do EpiPens Work?” Livescience.Com, 24 Aug. 2016, www.livescience.com/55872-how-do-epipens-work.html#:%7E:text=Epinephrine%20works%20by%20reversing%20the,Mylan%2C%20the%20maker%20of%20EpiPens.
Office of the Commissioner. “FDA Approves First Drug for Treatment of Peanut Allergy for Children.” U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 31 Jan. 2020, www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-drug-treatment-peanut-allergy-children.
Williams, Vivien. “Mayo Clinic Minute: What Happens to Your Body When You’re Allergic to Food?” Https://Newsnetwork.Mayoclinic.Org/, 17 Jan. 2019, newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-minute-what-happens-to-your-body-when-youre-allergic-to-food.
