In recent years, food allergies have garnered a lot of attention; however, a recent study suggests that it is not the food, but medicines the real culprits of sudden deaths associated with allergies.
Study researcher Dr. Elina Jerschow, director of the Drug Allergy Center at Montefiore Medical Center and assistant professor of medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City, said: “Medications can be dangerous”
While research from other countries has reported medications as a major culprit in deaths related to anaphylaxis (the most serious type of allergic reaction), Jerschow said, the problem has been less defined in the United States. One reason is that there is no national registry for anaphylaxis-related deaths, she said.
For the study, published online in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Jerschow and colleagues analyzed the death certificates of the U.S. National Mortality Database from 1999 to 2010. They found nearly 2,500 anaphylaxis-related deaths; so then, they tried to determine what caused the reaction.
According with their results, the most common cause was medication, which was implicated in nearly 59 percent of the deaths. About 19 percent of death certificates did not specify a cause. Food accounted for just fewer than 7 percent of deaths. Another 15 percent of deaths were due to venom from an insect bite or sting.
In 75 percent of the deaths, the drug that caused the reaction was not identified. Among the cases where the responsible drug was identified, an antibiotic was guilty in 40 percent of the cases. Then, the next were radiocontrast agents, which are administered during diagnostic imaging tests; followed by chemotherapy drugs to treat cancer, the study reported.
In an allergic reaction, the immune system overreacts to an allergen, releasing chemicals that cause symptoms in one area of the body, such as hives or an itchy feeling in the mouth or throat. In a serious reaction, known as anaphylaxis, the reaction affects more of the body and may include symptoms such as difficulty breathing, wheezing or throat swelling.
According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) anaphylaxis is a life-threatening emergency. An injection of a medication called epinephrine is needed to help reverse these symptoms, the AAAAI said.
According to the study, the United States and Australia have some of the highest rate of severe anaphylaxis in developed countries. From 1999 to 2010, the number of fatal drug reactions nearly doubled, according to the researchers.
This increase could be due to more medications use, more tests with contrast material, better diagnosis, and to some degree, coding changes entered by hospital personnel, according to the study.
The study found that those at most risk of having a fatal anaphylactic reaction were older adults and black people.
The severity of a reaction cannot be predicted, Dr. Wally Ghurabi, chief of emergency medicine at Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center said. However, some people are more prone to more serious reactions, such as anyone who has had a serious allergic reaction in the past. Those who are prone to allergic reactions should talk to their doctor about getting epinephrine kits and keeping them in their car, their bag and at home. Also, people need to be sure the kit contents are current and not expired. Also, people need to learn previously to the reaction how to use injection kits, and not when having it, advised Ghurabi.
If you or someone you know is having a serious allergic reaction, is recommendable using injectable epinephrine and calling your local emergency helpline.
Through: Health Library
