[News Terms] COVID-19 Vaccine Hypersensitivity 'Anaphylaxis'

'Anaphylaxis (anaphylactic shock)' refers to an excessive hypersensitive reaction of the body to a specific substance.

It is a severe allergic reaction in which symptoms appear throughout the body even with minimal contact with a specific substance. Symptoms usually appear immediately or within one hour after exposure to penicillin-type antibiotics, antipyretic analgesics, vaccines, foods including eggs, peanuts, seafood, fruits, or after being stung by bees or bitten by insects.

Symptoms such as coughing, chest pain, numbness in the mouth and hands and feet, rapid pulse, rash accompanied by itching, and vomiting can progress to acute respiratory distress, decreased blood pressure, loss of consciousness, and in some cases, death. Immediate treatment leads to recovery without significant problems, but delayed diagnosis and treatment can be fatal. Epinephrine is an important treatment. In addition to epinephrine, antihistamines, steroids, and blood pressure elevating agents may be administered to relieve symptoms.

A study has been published indicating that COVID-19 vaccination slightly increases the risk of anaphylaxis.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

The COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Research Center under the National Academy of Medicine of the Republic of Korea recently announced research analysis results showing that COVID-19 vaccination slightly increases the risk of anaphylaxis.

The analysis showed that the risk of anaphylaxis occurring within one day after COVID-19 vaccination was 3.15 (95% confidence interval, 2.71?3.66), indicating a significant increase in risk. Significant risk increases were also confirmed in subgroup analyses by vaccination dose, vaccine type, age, gender, and in sensitivity analyses changing the risk occurrence interval. Unlike anaphylaxis, no significant association was observed between sepsis and interstitial lung disease.

Park Byung-joo, director of the research center, stated, "COVID-19 vaccination appears to slightly increase the risk of anaphylaxis. However, further research is needed regarding the characteristics of anaphylaxis," and added, "We will continue research to scientifically derive causal relationships for various diseases in the future."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.