Final answer:
Severe allergic reactions called anaphylaxis may cause life-threatening airway swelling. Immediate treatment with an epinephrine autoinjector is crucial to prevent fatal outcomes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Severe allergic reactions, such as anaphylaxis, may become life-threatening when the victim’s face, neck, and tongue swell, closing the airway. Anaphylaxis is a rapid, systemic reaction to allergens that can result in a dangerous drop in blood pressure and severe swelling that can close off the airway. This can prevent oxygen from being carried to the brain, and if not treated immediately with emergency measures such as epinephrine, the result may be fatal. The hallmark symptoms of anaphylactic shock include respiratory distress, plummeting blood pressure, and potential suffocation.
Treating anaphylaxis requires immediate medical attention and commonly involves an injection of epinephrine, which helps to constrict blood vessels to increase blood pressure, relax smooth muscles in the lungs to improve breathing, and reduce the swelling that may otherwise block airways. Individuals with known severe allergies often carry an epinephrine autoinjector (e.g., EpiPen®) for emergency self-administration.