Allergies

Bites and stings

Abdulfattah Alhazmi

ayhazmi@uqu.edu.sa

Reference: AMERICAN RED CROSS FIRST AID–RESPONDING TO EMERGENCIES FOURTH EDITION

Copyright © 2005, revised edition 2007, by The American National Red Cross
All rights reserved.
 Statistics
• Food allergy is the most common cause.
• The number of children with food allergies is increasing
year after year.
• Foods most likely to cause a severe reaction are peanuts,
tree nuts, fish, milk, eggs and shellfish.
• People who have both asthma and a food allergy are at
greater risk for anaphylaxis.
• At present, strict avoidance of problem foods is the only
way to prevent anaphylaxis.
 Allergic Reactions
• An allergy is a general term that describes an abnormal
immune response to a usually harmless substance.
• This results in the production of allergy antibodies.
• Antibodies are proteins in the immune system which identify
and react with foreign substances .
• An allergy results when the immune system react to a
substance in the environment that does not normally affect
most people.
• Not all allergic reactions are life threatening but EACH
allergic reaction needs to be taken seriously!
 Allergens

• An allergen is the substance that may cause an allergy

in some people.

• Ingested: foods, preservatives.

• Inhaled: pollens, dust mites.
• Absorbed: sprays, chemicals.
• Injected: bites & stings.
 Mild Allergic Reaction

• A few hives around mouth/face.

• Mild itching in mouth area or around it.
• Mild nausea/discomfort.
Anaphylaxis
 Anaphylactic Reaction
• Life-threatening allergic reaction.
• Death can occur within 5-10 minutes or up to 4
hours later.
• Over-reaction of the immune system which
recognizes the allergen as a foreign intruder and
responds by releasing large amounts of histamine.
• Can be due to food, insect allergies, medications, or
latex.
What is Anaphylaxis?
Anaphylaxis is a severe, life-threatening, allergic reaction.

As with mild allergic reactions there can be a whole range of triggers such as
peanuts, shellfish, latex, bee stings etc.

When the body detects this allergen, it reacts by releasing a large amount of
inflammatory substances such as histamine. These substances cause blood
vessels throughout the body to widen, leading to a drop in blood pressure, and
airways in the lungs to constrict and secrete mucus causing severe difficulty in
breathing.

This often happens very quickly, possibly even seconds after coming into contact
with the allergen. However the reaction can in rare cases be delayed up to 24
hours after the initial contact.
 Anaphylaxis
• Anaphylaxis often begins within minutes after a
person eats a problem food.
• Less commonly, symptoms may begin hours later.
• About 25 percent of patients have a second wave
of symptoms one to several hours after their initial
symptoms have subsided.
Triggers of Anaphylaxis
Signs and Symptoms

• Lung: Shortness of breath, wheeze, repetitive

cough, difficulty breathing.
• Heart/CNS: Faint, weak pulse, dizzy, confused, sense of
“impeding doom”.
• Throat: Tight, hoarse, trouble breathing or
swallowing, itching of lips or tongue.
• Mouth: Obstructive swelling (tongue and or
lips).
• Skin: Pale, blue skin, many hives/rash, swelling of eyes.
• Gut: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, crampy pain.
Signs and Symptoms

● Sudden swelling of the face, tongue, lips, neck and eyes

● Hoarse voice, ‘lump in the throat’, developing into loud pitched

noisy breathing (which may stop altogether).

● Difficult, wheezy breathing, tight chest (the patient may have

the equivalent of an asthma attack as well as a swollen airway).

● Rapid weak pulse.

● Nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps and diarrhoea.

● Itchy skin.

● Red, blotchy skin eruption – urticaria

● Anxiety – a feeling of ‘impending doom’

Signs and Symptoms (cont.)
 First Aid Management

● Call for emergency medical help. Do not delay in calling for help
as time is critical.
● Lay the victim in a comfortable position:
● If the victim has Airway or Breathing problems they may prefer to sit up as
this will make breathing easier
● If the victim feels faint, do not sit them up. Lay them down immediately.
Raise the legs if they still feel faint. They may go into shock.
● The patient may carry an auto-injector of Epinephrine
(Adrenaline). This can save the casualty’s life if it’s given
promptly.
● If the patient becomes unconscious – check to see if they are

breathing normally. If they are not breathing, immediately

update the emergency services and commence CPR.
FIRSTAIDPOWERPOINT.ORG
 First Aid Management

• Benadryl given for hives, swelling.

• Epinephrine Auto-Injector given for life-

threatening symptoms such as throat closing,
difficulty breathing, can’t swallow.

• CALL 997!! If an Epinephrine Auto-Injector is

given, person must go to the ER
 TYPES OF EPINEPHRINE
AUTO-INJECTORS

• Auvi-Q--new

• Epipen and Epipen Jr.

 EPI-PEN DOSAGE

• EPI-PEN JR. (0.15MG.): FOR CHILDREN LESS THAN

65 LBS.

• EPI-PEN
(0.3MG.): FOR ADULTS OR CHILDREN
GREATER THAN 65 LBS.
 HOW TO ADMINISTER
AN EPI-PEN

• Take injector out of plastic tube. Grasp unit, keep black tip
down. Form a fist around the unit.
• Remove gray cap with other hand.
• Hold black tip near outer thigh and jab firmly into thigh at
a 90 degree angle.
• Press and hold in thigh for 3 to 10 SECONDS.
• Epi-pen needle goes through clothes.
• Call 997.
HOW TO ADMINISTER AUVI-Q

• Device talks to you! Walks user thru process.

• Pull device from case.
• Pull off red safety guard.
• Place black end against outer thigh at a 90-degree angle then
press firmly and hold for 5 SECONDS.
• Needle goes through clothes.
• Call 997.
Using an Epinephrine Autoinjector
 Bites and Stings
• Bites and stings are among the most common forms of
injected poisonings.
• Some of the most common types of bites and stings are
from
 Insects.
 Ticks.
 Spiders and scorpions.
 Marine life.
 Snakes.
 Domestic and wild animals.
 Humans.
• Specific signals of common bites and stings depend on

 The type and location of the bite or sting.

 The amount of poison injected.
 The time elapsed since the poisoning.
 The victim’s size, weight, medical condition and age.
• Less severe reactions to bites and stings may
trigger signals including:
 A bite or sting mark.
 A stinger, tentacle or venom sac.
 Redness.
 Swelling.
 Pain or tenderness.
• Severe allergic reactions to bites and stings may
bring on a life-threatening condition
anaphylaxis.
 Care for Snakebites

• Follow these guidelines to care for someone bitten by a snake:

 Call local emergency number.
 Wash the wound.
 Immobilize the affected part.
 Keep the affected area lower than the heart, if possible.
 Minimize the victim’s movement.
 Care for Snakebites
(continued)

• Regardless of what you may have otherwise heard or

read—
 Do not apply ice.
 Do not cut the wound.
 Do not apply suction.
 Do not apply a tourniquet.
 Do not use electric shock.
 Human Bites
• Human bites differ from other bites because they
may be more contaminated, tend to occur in
higher-risk areas of the body and often receive
delayed care.
• Human saliva has been found to contain at least
42 different kinds of species of bacteria.
• According to the centers of disease control and
prevention (CDC), human bites are not
considered to carry a risk of transmitting
hepatitis B or HIV.
 Care for Human Bites

• If the wound is not severe:

 Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water.
 Control the bleeding.
 Apply a dressing.
 Take the victim to a physician or medical facility.
• If the bite is severe:
 Control the bleeding.
 Call the local emergency number.
 Preventing Bites and Stings

• Preventing bites and stings from insects, spiders,

ticks, snakes, scorpions is the best protection
against the transmission of injected poisons.
• Follow these general guidelines to prevent bites and
stings:
 Apply repellent.
 Wear sturdy boots.
 Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
 Tuck pant legs into socks or boots and tuck shirt into pants.
 Wear light-colored clothing.
 Use a rubber band or tape where pants and socks meet to
prevent ticks or insects from getting under clothing.
 Inspect yourself carefully after being outdoors.
 Preventing Bites and Stings
(continued)

 Shower immediately after coming indoors.

 Keep an eye out for and avoid nests.
 Spray pets that go outdoors with repellent.
 Avoid walking in areas known to be populated
with snakes.
 If you encounter a snake, walk away on the same
path you were on.
Questions ?