anaphylactic shock

noun
1.
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.
Origin
1905-10
Examples from the web for anaphylactic shock
  • They might cause unpleasant upper respiratory irritations, but they will not send anyone into anaphylactic shock.
  • He yelped and cursed, then started turning blue and breathing erratically-he was in anaphylactic shock.
  • And you don't know when you're going to have that one reaction and go into anaphylactic shock and maybe drop dead.
  • My best guess was that my new patient was in anaphylactic shock, a severe allergic reaction mediated by the body's immune system.
  • These reactions can range from mild skin rashes to rare but severe, even life-threatening, anaphylactic shock.
  • Later that night, a latex allergy sent her into anaphylactic shock and she nearly died.
  • These reactions can range from mild skin rashes to rare, but severe and even life-threatening anaphylactic shock.
  • These reactions can range from mild skin rashes to rare but severe, even life-threatening anaphylactic shock.
British Dictionary definitions for anaphylactic shock

anaphylactic shock

noun
1.
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 in Medicine

anaphylactic shock n.
A severe, sometimes fatal allergic reaction characterized by a sharp drop in blood pressure, urticaria, and breathing difficulties that is caused by exposure to a foreign substance, such as a drug or bee venom, after preliminary or sensitizing exposure. Also called anaphylaxis.

anaphylactic shock in Science
anaphylactic shock
  (ān'ə-fə-lāk'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.