Passive anaphylaxis is a condition that occurs when an individual experiences a severe allergic reaction after being injected with an antigen-specific antibody. The spelling of this word, "pa-siv a-nuh-fuh-lak-sis", can be explained using IPA phonetic transcription. The "p" sound is pronounced as a voiceless bilabial plosive, while the "a" sound represents the open front unrounded vowel. The "s" sound is a voiceless alveolar fricative, the "v" sound is a voiced labiodental fricative and the "f" sound is a voiceless labiodental fricative. The second "a" represents the same open front unrounded vowel, while the "nuh" sound is a voiced velar nasal. The "fuh" sound represents the voiceless labiodental fricative again. Finally, the word ends with "l
Passive anaphylaxis refers to a severe allergic reaction that occurs as a result of the introduction of pre-formed allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies from an external source, such as a donor or through medical intervention. This type of anaphylactic reaction is considered passive because it doesn't involve the recipient's immune system sensitization to the allergen.
During passive anaphylaxis, the pre-existing IgE antibodies present in the recipient's body recognize the allergen and trigger a cascade of immune responses. This includes the release of various chemical mediators, such as histamine, leukotrienes, and cytokines, which cause widespread inflammation and allergic symptoms in the individual.
The symptoms of passive anaphylaxis are similar to those of active anaphylaxis and can vary depending on the severity of the reaction. They often include hives, swelling, itching, difficulty breathing, wheezing, chest tightness, low blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, gastrointestinal disturbances, and in extreme cases, anaphylactic shock.
Passive anaphylaxis can occur in various medical situations, such as during blood transfusions, organ transplants, immune globulin therapies, or through maternal-fetal transfer of allergen-specific IgE antibodies to the fetus. It is important to note that passive anaphylaxis can be potentially life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention.
Treatment of passive anaphylaxis typically involves administering epinephrine (adrenaline) to counteract the severe allergic reaction. Other supportive measures, such as antihistamines, corticosteroids, intravenous fluids, and oxygen, may also be necessary to stabilize the individual.
A. produced in normal animals by the injection of blood or serum from an already sensitized animal.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "passive anaphylaxis" can be broken down into two parts: "passive" and "anaphylaxis".
1. Passive: The word "passive" comes from the Latin word "passivus", meaning "suffered" or "undergo". It entered the English language in the late 14th century and refers to a state of inactivity, submission, or being acted upon rather than taking action.
2. Anaphylaxis: The word "anaphylaxis" comes from two Greek roots - "ana", meaning "against", and "phylaxis", meaning "protection". It was first used in medical literature by the French physiologist Charles Richet in 1902 to describe a severe allergic reaction.