Fell into a coma while chopping onions at home... What is 'Anaphylaxis'?

Showing allergic reaction to gas emitted from a large amount of onions

In Vietnam, a woman in her 60s suddenly collapsed and fell into a coma while chopping onions.

A woman in Vietnam fell into a coma while chopping onions. Photo by Pixabay

On the 12th, local media including VN Express reported that a woman in her 60s, Ms. A, living in Quang Ninh Province in northern Vietnam, recently lost consciousness and collapsed while preparing a large amount of onions at home.

Ms. A was immediately taken to the hospital for examination. The results revealed symptoms of respiratory failure, bilateral lung contraction and ventilation loss, as well as erythema spreading throughout her body. Medical staff suspected that Ms. A inhaled gas released from the onions, triggering an allergic reaction. This means she experienced an 'anaphylactic' shock after handling a large quantity of onions at once. Anaphylactic shock is a condition where the body has an excessive hypersensitive reaction to a specific substance. Even minimal contact can cause severe systemic symptoms, making it a serious allergic disease.

The causes of anaphylaxis vary. It can be common foods such as seafood, dairy products, or nuts, and in adults, drugs or insects may be the main causes. Rarely, related symptoms may appear even without any allergenic substances.

If treated immediately, recovery is usually without major issues, but delayed treatment can lead to respiratory distress, low blood pressure, loss of consciousness, and even death. Ms. A regained consciousness after a day of medication treatment and is currently reported to have been discharged from the hospital.

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