Patient T.N. H. (48 years old, residing in Ho Chi Minh City) was brought to Thong Nhat Hospital at 3:30 PM on June 16 in a state of urticaria, red rashes all over the body and shortness of breath after about 2 hours of eating tuna. Previously, the patient had never recorded a history of allergy to this food.
At the Emergency Department, the patient recorded systemic urticaria, severe itching, shortness of breath, fatigue, blood pressure dropping to 85/50 mmHg, cold hands and feet. Based on clinical manifestations, doctors diagnosed grade III anaphylaxis and urgently deployed emergency measures according to the protocol, including adrenaline injections and necessary resuscitation measures.
After initial treatment, the patient was transferred to the Intensive Care - Poison Control Department for continued monitoring and treatment. Currently, the health condition has clearly improved, the patient is awake, has good contact, breathes on his own, blood pressure and pulse are stable. The patient was transferred to the Cardiology Department for continued treatment and monitoring.
Dr. Tran Thi Quynh Nga - Department of Intensive Care - Poison Control, Thong Nhat Hospital said that many people believe that only people with a history of allergies are at risk of anaphylaxis. However, in reality, some cases may still experience allergic reactions even though they have been exposed to the same type of food many times before without recording any abnormalities.
There are many cases where people used to use seafood, fish, shrimp, crab or other completely normal foods, but then allergic reactions appeared. This is not a rare situation in clinical practice," said Dr. Nga.
According to doctors, anaphylaxis is a serious hypersensitivity reaction, which starts quickly and can be fatal if not detected and treated promptly. Common agents include drugs, food, insect venom and some other factors.
People need to pay attention to warning signs such as urticaria, itching, rash, swollen lips, swollen tongue, shortness of breath, wheezing, dizziness or lightheadedness after eating, using medicine or being exposed to suspected agents. When severe symptoms appear such as gradually increasing shortness of breath, chest tightness, low blood pressure, lethargy or fainting, it is necessary to quickly take the patient to the nearest medical facility or call emergency services for timely treatment.
Doctors recommend not being subjective about allergy signs that appear after eating or taking medication. Early recognition and timely treatment are decisive in reducing the risk of severe complications and death.
