Anaphylaxis (pronounced anna-fill-axis) is a serious allergic reaction that is rapid in onset and may cause death.1
An allergen is a substance capable of causing an allergic reaction. Upon first exposure, the immune system treats the allergen as something to be rejected and not tolerated. This process is called sensitization.
Re-exposure to the same allergen in the now sensitized individual may result in an allergic reaction that, in its most severe form, is called anaphylaxis.
- Sampson H. et al. Second Symposium on the Definition and Management of Anaphylaxis: Summary Report – Second National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease/Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network Symposium. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 2006: 117(2) 391-397.