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anaphylactic shock
noun
- Pathology. a severe and sometimes fatal allergic reaction to a foreign substance, especially a protein, as serum or bee venom, to which an individual has become sensitized, often involving rapid swelling, acute respiratory distress, and collapse of circulation. Compare cardiogenic shock ( def ), hypovolemic shock ( def ).
anaphylactic shock
noun
- a severe, sometimes fatal, reaction to a substance to which a person has an extreme sensitivity, often involving respiratory difficulty and circulation failure
anaphylactic shock
/ ăn′ə-fə-lăk′tĭk /
- A sudden, life-threatening allergic reaction, characterized by dilation of blood vessels with a sharp drop in blood pressure and bronchial spasm with shortness of breath. Anaphylactic shock is caused by exposure to a foreign substance, such as a drug or bee venom, to which the individual has been previously exposed. The substances act as antigens, provoking a preliminary immune response during the first exposure that results in a full-blown, immediate response during secondary exposure, called an immediate hypersensitivity reaction. Emergency treatment, including epinephrine injections, must be administered to prevent death.
- Also called anaphylaxis
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Word History and Origins
Origin of anaphylactic shock1
First recorded in 1905–10
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Compare Meanings
How does anaphylactic shock compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
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Example Sentences
The young lady, though not yet 14 years of age, has realized that it is simpler to tell everyone she meets that carrots send her into anaphylactic shock than to admit the truth, which is that she hates them.
From Washington Post
Later in the month, in Israel, which is deploying the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, a man suffered anaphylactic shock an hour after receiving a shot, according to the Jerusalem Post.
From Fortune
To avoid anaphylactic shock, this dose must be incredibly small.
From Project Gutenberg
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