Although doctors don't fully understand what causes exercise-induced anaphylaxis or idiopathic anaphylaxis, you may be interested to learn about how to recognize symptoms of these conditions and how they are treated.

Exercise-Induced Anaphylaxis

Exercise-induced anaphylaxis is a form of physical allergy. Although the mechanism by which exercise can cause anaphylaxis is unknown, some medications (such as aspirin or ibuprofen) or foods ingested before exercise have been associated with exercise-induced anaphylaxis.¹

If you have a personal or family history of being prone to allergies, then you may be at an increased risk for experiencing exercise-induced anaphylaxis.¹

The initial symptoms of exercise-induced anaphylaxis include:¹

• Fatigue
• Diffuse warmth
• Skin itching
• Skin redness
• Hives

Later symptoms may progress to:

• Gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, vomiting)
• Swelling of the throat
• Loss of consciousness

Treating exercise-induced anaphylaxis follows the same guidelines as for treating other forms of anaphylaxis, including the use of self-injectable epinephrine such as the EpiPen^® or EpiPen^® Jr auto-injector.¹

Additionally, patients should cease exercising once symptoms begin and should avoid exercise 4 to 6 hours after eating¹ if they have experienced exercise-induced anaphylaxis previously. Patients with exercise-induced anaphylaxis do not react every time they exercise; it seems to be unpredictable. Excellent physical conditioning does not prevent this occurence.

Idiopathic Anaphylaxis

Idiopathic anaphylaxis is a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction that occurs in the absence of any known allergen. In simpler terms, nobody really knows what causes idiopathic anaphylaxis.

The symptoms of idiopathic anaphylaxis are the same as for other forms of anaphylaxis, with the main symptoms being:¹

• Itching
• Hives
• Swelling of the throat
• A drop in blood pressure
• Irregular heart rhythm
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Abdominal cramping
• Loss of consciousness

When idiopathic anaphylaxis occurs, every attempt should be made to carefully analyze the events and conditions surrounding the attack as a previously unknown allergen may prove to be responsible.¹

Treating idiopathic anaphylaxis follows the same guidelines as for treating other forms of anaphylaxis, including the use of self-injectable epinephrine such as the EpiPen^® auto-injector.¹

Side effects of epinephrine may include palpitations, tachycardia (an abnormally fast heartbeat), sweating, nausea and vomiting, and respiratory difficulty. Cardiac arrhythmias may follow administration of epinephrine. Patients should ask their physician about the circumstances under which this life-saving medication should be used.

Reference

1. Joint Task Force on Practice Parameters, American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, and the Joint Council of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. The diagnosis and management of anaphylaxis. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1998;101(6 pt 2):S465-S528.