There are every year people who die from allergic attacks, some of which we read through the press. There are several types of allergies which may be life-threatening, among them:
- Asthma.
- Food allergy.
- Drug allergy.
- Allergy to insect stings (in example to honey bee).
Death is usually due to choking or to a drastic drop in blood pressure (this syndrome is known as anaphylaxis and is the most extreme allergic reaction). Importantly, there is a very narrow window for treatment. Prevention is the most important intervention in these cases. It is important to discuss the risks with the allergist, who can, if he sees it fit, give the instructions on how to treat immediately these reactions, in example with an adrenaline auto-injector. In every case, emergency services should be swiftly summoned with the start of the reaction.