Top 5 Reasons to Visit an Emergency Room: Allergic Reactions
Given how commonplace allergies and allergic reactions are, one would expect that the percentage of people who suffer from the same would be a sizeable one, but from the numbers from the subject matter experts over at FrontlineER.com, that number is somewhere around 20%. While this number may not be as big as one may have envisaged, it is still fair to say that allergic reactions are very common, and especially during the summer when cases of allergic reactions go up exponentially. Allergic reactions occur when the body reacts to certain substances, known as allergens, which should be harmless under normal circumstances. Some of the common allergens out there include pollen, dust, certain foods such as peanuts and many others. Not all allergic reactions are created equal, it must be noted, as they vary in the degree of severity. In most cases, allergic reactions are usually not that severe and can be handled at home with medication such as prescribed antihistamines. However, there are certain instances where allergic reactions can be potentially life-threatening, in severe cases, and as such requires one to visit an emergency room as soon as possible. It is therefore important to know which signs are manageable and which ones require one to visit an emergency room as soon as possible. This article will therefore be of great help as it will look to highlight the top 5 reasons to visit an emergency room for the same.
The very first reason we have to highlight straight off the bat, as far as visiting an emergency room for allergic reactions goes, is if one starts to develop breathing difficulties. If you come into contact with something you are allergic to such as pollen or pet dander or you ingest something you are allergic to such as peanuts or shrimp among others, and immediately start to develop breathing problems, you should head over to an emergency room as soon as possible. As a rule of thumb, breathing difficulties should always be taken seriously to prevent one from asphyxiating. The red flags to look out for here include shortness of breath, tightness or pain in the chest, wheezing among others, all of which should be treated with seriousness these symptoms deserve.
If you are presenting with symptoms that indicate that the allergic reaction is affecting your nervous system including the brain. This, as is covered in detail by the subject matter experts over at the ever reliable FrontlineER.com, should always be treated with great seriousness. The red flag to look out for, one that will indicate that the allergic reaction is affecting your nervous system is if you start to feel a tingling sensation on the palms of your hands or even on the soles of your feet. This should be treated with the utmost seriousness with the same applying to folks who develop speech related difficulties due to allergic reactions such as an extremely hoarse voice; they should also ensure they visit an emergency room to be attended to.
The next reason we are going to highlight as far as allergic reaction and when to visit an emergency room as far as they are concerned has to do with hives and rashes. Here, the gurus over at FrontlineER.com are clear that if you are suffering an allergic reaction and you develop hives and rashes that cover an extensive part of your body or even the whole of your body, you should ensure that you head over to an emergency room as soon as possible to be attended to. If the rash is not extensive but it is very severe looking and is accompanied by blistering and crusting as well as welts, then one should also ensure that they visit an emergency room as soon as possible to be attended to.
Another reason that should ensure one heads over to the emergency room as soon as possible is if the symptoms are affecting some sensitive areas of the body. For instance, if you start to present with swelling, reddening as well as severe itching in the eyes after coming into contact or ingesting something you are allergic to, you should ensure you visit an emergency room as soon as possible. The same applies for cases where one begins to experience swelling on the mouth, lips and throat. In such instances you will find that you are finding it difficult to swallow, and as such this is yet another sign that you should go visit an emergency room as soon as possible to be attended to.
Another reason to visit an emergency room for allergic reactions is if you start to present with severe nausea and vomiting after interacting with an allergen. Other related symptoms to look out for include abdominal pain and severe diarrhea, all of which indicate a severe allergic reaction and as such should always be taken seriously to prevent one from going to anaphylactic shock, as per the subject matter experts over at FrontlineER.com.
The above are the top five reasons to visit an emergency room for allergic reactions, although there is a lot to be uncovered on this very wide topic, and if you wish to do so then head over to the ever reliable FrontlineER.com.
