(NAPSA)-Recognizing
that allergies are not something to sneeze at, researchers have found
ways to save people from what can become deadly reactions.
The Problem
The problem is
what's known as anaphylaxis. It is a sudden, severe, allergic reaction
that can involve the skin, respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract and
cardiovascular system.
Up to 43 million
people in the U.S. alone are at risk and that number is expected to
climb. Some 8 percent of children have food allergies, with allergies to
peanuts and tree nuts among children having doubled in the past five
years. Peanuts, tree nuts such as walnuts and cashews, shellfish, fish,
milk and eggs commonly cause anaphylactic reactions.
In the U.S.,
food-induced anaphylaxis is believed to cause about 30,000 trips to the
emergency room and between 150 to 200 deaths each year.
The Symptoms
Symptoms can
include a tingling sensation in the mouth, swelling of the tongue and
the throat, difficulty breathing, hives, vomiting, abdominal cramps,
diarrhea, drop in blood pressure and loss of consciousness. These can
occur within minutes to hours after contact with the allergy-causing
substance. Only a trace amount of the problem food, medicine or other
substance can cause a reaction in some individuals.
Reactions can range
from mild to life threatening. People who have asthma, eczema or hay
fever are at greatest risk.
An Answer
In response, a
pediatric-oriented company dedicated to identifying, developing and
delivering solutions to address the unmet medical needs of children and
those who care for them, has come up with a novel epinephrine
auto-injector, Twinject(r), which is indicated for the emergency
treatment of severe allergic reactions. Epinephrine, also called
adrenaline, is the medication of choice for controlling a severe
allergic reaction.
Called Twinject,
the device is the only available product approved by the FDA that
contains two doses of epinephrine in a single device. This is important,
as published studies have demonstrated that more than one dose of
epinephrine may be required in many situations to properly address the
allergic reaction, with the second dose often needed within five to 10
minutes after the first.
Twinject is a
compact auto-injector device. The first dose is administered
automatically and a second dose may be administered manually following
partial disassembly of the auto-injector. It has a permanently attached
Wrap Label(tm) sheet to ensure step-by-step instructions are always
available.
Reducing Risk
Even better than
stopping a reaction is avoiding it in the first place. To do that, there
are several steps you can take:
1. Be sure
all your health care givers know of your allergy. An estimated one in 10
Americans may be at risk for allergic reactions to medications.
2. Avoid
the allergy-causing food. Read ingredient labels for all foods. If the
label contains unfamiliar terms, call the manufacturer and ask for a
definition or avoid eating that food.
3. Stop
insect stings. Avoid brightly colored clothing, scented cosmetics and
perfumes. Don't walk barefoot, do use caution when cooking outdoors and
keep insecticide handy.
For more
information, visit www.twinject.com.
