Final answer:
Mild anaphylaxis is typically treated with antihistamines. Severe reactions may require emergency treatment with epinephrine injections. Follow-up treatment may involve antihistamines and corticosteroids.
Step-by-step explanation:
Mild anaphylaxis is often treated with antihistamines. Antihistamines are drugs that reduce or eliminate the effects of histamines, which are responsible for allergy symptoms. They help control the immune system's reaction to allergens. Severe allergic reactions, on the other hand, may require emergency treatment with epinephrine injections.
Epinephrine constricts blood vessels, increases blood pressure, relaxes smooth muscles in the lungs, improves breathing, and reduces swelling that may block the airways. Individuals with known severe allergies are encouraged to carry an epinephrine autoinjector, which can be used in the case of exposure to the allergen to counteract the effects of anaphylaxis.
Follow-up treatment for mild anaphylaxis may involve giving the patient antihistamines and slow-acting corticosteroids for several days to prevent potential late-phase reactions. However, the effects of antihistamine and corticosteroid treatment are not well studied and are used based on theoretical considerations.