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What is an Allergic Reaction?
An allergic reaction is the body's way of responding to an "invader." When the body senses a foreign substance, called an antigen, the immune system is triggered. The immune system normally protects the body from harmful agents such as bacteria and toxins. Its overreaction to a harmless substance (an allergen) is called a hypersensitivity reaction, or an allergic reaction.
Most allergic reactions are minor, such as a rash from poison ivy, mosquito or other bug bites, or sneezing from hay fever. The type of reaction depends on the person's immune system response, which is sometimes unpredictable.
In rare cases, an allergic reaction can be life-threatening (known as anaphylaxis). Each year in the United States, it is estimated that there are 150,000 cases of anaphylaxis. Up to 500-1,000 fatalities due to anaphylaxis occur each year.
Allergies are very common. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation (AAFA) states allergies affect 50 million Americans, is the fifth leading chronic disease in the U.S., and the third leading among children. More than 40 million people have indoor/outdoor allergies as their primary allergy. More than 17 million people visit their doctor for allergies annually, and food allergies account for 50,000 visits to the emergency room annually.
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Improving the Diagnosis and Treatment of Anaphylaxis: Updated Clinical Guidelines
Provided by: Primary Issues
Learning Objectives
After participating in this educational activity, participants should be better able to
• Implement guideline-based strategies for the accurate diagnosis of anaphylaxis, including identification of patient-specific risk factors
• Identify patients who are appropriate candidates for an epinephrine auto-injector and develo... |
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Anaphylaxis, Anaphylactic/Non-anaphylactic Food Reactions
Provided by: CMElectures
Janet M. Beausoleil, MD, is an assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and attending physician at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Here, she provides a definition of anaphylaxis, its mechanisms, and differential diagnosis, and describes its connection to food allergies.
Dr. Beausoleil wishes... |
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Disparities In Asthma: Who Is At Risk? Disparities in prevalence, healthcare utilization and morbidity attributable to asthma continue to increase primarily among minority and poor populations.
Provided by: CME University
Asthma in the United States continues to be characterized by alarmingly persistent, if not increasing, healthcare disparities. Recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reviewed asthma prevalence, disease characteristics and self-management education in the United States over the period of 2001 – 2009. The overall prevalence ... |
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A Latex Allergy Guide:Teaching Patients How to Live with a Latex Allergy
Provided by: CEU4U
**After completion of this course the participant should be able to:**
* List seven signs and symptoms of a latex reaction.
* Describe factors contributing to the emotional impact a latex allergy has on the patient and family.
* List four common household items that contain latex.
* Discuss safety measures latex sensitive patients should use
*... |
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drug allergy: revisiting an old
concept
Provided by: The Collaborative Education Institute
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this activity, participants
should be able to:
1. Define drug allergy in relation to
adverse drug reactions.
2. Discuss the incidence and risk
factors of drug allergies in the
general population.
3. Evaluate cross-reactivity between
agents to provide alternative
recommendations to patients.
4. Descr... |
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Headache and Allergy Relief Massage - Online CE class for massage therapists and all interested parties
Provided by: Ariana Institute
This online home study Headache and Allergy Relief Massage CE course is designed to increase your knowledge regarding massage for headaches and allergies. Information provided in this course includes a list of headache and allergy relief modalities; a brief history of massage; illustrations of the muscles of the face, head and face, the bones of th... |
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Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Anaphylaxis: Insights for the Primary Care Practitioner
Provided by: Primary Issues
Program Overview
Anaphylaxis is a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction that results in an estimated 30,000 emergency department visits annually. Although clinical guidelines for the diagnosis and management of anaphylaxis exist, several studies suggest that anaphylaxis is often underdiagnosed. Primary care clinicians play an impo... |
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A Comprehensive Nursing Approach In Management of COPD
Provided by: Biologix Solutions, LLC
Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:
Summarize chronic bronchitis, emphysema, asthma and bronchiectasis.
Define the normal control of ventilation in order to identify abnormal pathologies like hypoxic drive and CO2 narcosis.
Differentiate auscultation of adventitious and vesicular breath sounds.
Define normal ventilation / pe... |
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Clinical411 Anaphylaxis:
When does a caregiver or patient administer epinephrine by automatic injector to a child or to themselves who has previously experienced an anaphylactic reaction?
Provided by: Medicor Learning
Clinical411 is a dynamic, online educational platform that provides easy and immediate access to evidence-based answers from experts to current clinical questions you may be facing in your practice.
Upon review of this Clinical411 answer, you should be able to educate caregivers and patients about when to treat a child (or self) who has a histo... |
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Food Allergies
Provided by: NetCE
Food allergy affects nearly 4% to 5% of children and approximately 3% to 4% of adults in the United States, and the prevalence has been increasing since 1997. The number of deaths associated with food allergy remains relatively low, but some reactions can be life-threatening, making it necessary to ensure that individuals with food allergy and thei... |
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Virtual Exhibits / Booths
