Anaphylaxis is a severe and potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. This reaction is sudden, severe, and involves the whole body. Many allergens can cause anaphylaxis, including foods, medications, exercise, latex, or insect stings, dyes, industrial chemicals or unknown triggers.

Symptoms of anaphylaxis generally begin within 5 to 60 minutes of exposure to a trigger. The early symptoms often start from the skin causing itching, flushing, urticaria (hives), and angioedema (swelling). The other common symptoms are tearing and swelling of eyes, runny nose, itching of the mouth, difficulty breathing, wheezing, very rapid heartbeat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, and general weakness. Anaphylaxis causes more serious symptoms as it progresses. It requires emergency treatment because the symptoms of respiratory obstruction and shock develop so quickly.

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