Acute Anaphylactic Reactions and Aspirin Allergy

Abstract

The subject of anaphylaxis immediately brings to mind penicillin, and for good reasons. Still, any of a long list of diagnostic and therapeutic agents and foods can be the cause of this life-threatening event. Every physician and even some patients should be prepared to deal with this emergency. For some asthmatic patients, even taking aspirin can precipitate a severe attack of asthma. In particular, the combination of asthma and nasal polyps should raise suspicion of this type of aspirin allergy.