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Symptoms of anaphylactic shock in children
Medical expert of the article
Last reviewed: 06.07.2025
The severity of anaphylactic shock is usually inversely proportional to the time that has passed since contact with the allergen, i.e. the less time passes from contact with the allergen until the onset of clinical symptoms, the more severe the anaphylactic shock.
In case of parenteral penetration of the allergen, after a few seconds or minutes after a short period of precursors (weakness, fear, anxiety, etc.), hyperemia of the skin and itching (primarily of the hands, feet and groin area), abdominal pain appear. The appearance of urticarial rash and development of angioedema are typical. Symptoms from the respiratory system can progress from mild laryngeal edema, bronchial obstruction to asphyxia. The patient "goes limp", loses consciousness, profuse sweating and severe pallor of the skin, foam at the mouth, urinary and fecal incontinence, convulsions, coma appear. Only energetic, aggressive treatment can save the patient. Death can occur within a few minutes.
After ingestion of the allergen, clinical manifestations of shock develop after some time, which is necessary for the digestion of the product and absorption of the allergen in the gastrointestinal tract. In some patients, after the relief of anaphylactic shock, a repeated episode of anaphylaxis may develop as a delayed reaction.
Exercise-induced anaphylaxis occurs with excessive muscle strain and is characterized by urticarial rashes on the skin, angioedema, nausea, vomiting, cramping abdominal pain, diarrhea, and in the most severe cases, laryngeal edema, bronchospasm, and vascular collapse. The reaction develops during or immediately after exercise. The exact mechanism of exercise-induced anaphylaxis has not been established. It is believed that the release of endogenous opioid peptides during increased physical activity leads to the release of anaphylaxis mediators, increased serum lactate, and creatine phosphokinase in susceptible patients.
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