anaphylactic shock

noun

Definition of anaphylactic shock

: an often severe and sometimes fatal systemic reaction in a susceptible individual upon exposure to a specific antigen (such as wasp venom or penicillin) after previous sensitization that is characterized especially by respiratory symptoms, fainting, itching, and hives

Examples of anaphylactic shock in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The rate of anaphylactic shock in each dose of the meningitis B vaccine is 6.16 cases per 1 million doses. — Cassidy Morrison, Washington Examiner, "COVID-19 vaccines: What you need to know about side effects and risks," 8 Feb. 2021 Later in the month, in Israel, which is deploying the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, a man suffered anaphylactic shock an hour after receiving a shot, according to the Jerusalem Post. — John Lauerman, Fortune, "Everything to know about allergic reactions to COVID vaccines," 31 Dec. 2020 But by Monday, 11 Alaskan health-care workers had reported some kind of adverse reaction after getting the shot, including two described as anaphylactic shock. — Annie Berman, Anchorage Daily News, "‘So, so exciting”: Second wave of COVID-19 vaccine distributions begin in Alaska as Moderna shipments arrive," 22 Dec. 2020 Other vaccines on the market sometimes caused severe reactions such as anaphylactic shock. — Los Angeles Times, "He got a coronavirus vaccine in China but had to keep it secret. Why?," 29 Oct. 2020 Their bite usually leads to anaphylactic shock in humans, but cases of loris bites are rare. — Corryn Wetzel, Smithsonian Magazine, "14 Fun Facts About Frightening Animals," 30 Oct. 2020 Some people either are or become allergic to the venom, sometimes to the point of anaphylactic shock, which can be fatal. — Bill Heavey, Field & Stream, "The 12 Deadliest Insects in the World," 19 Oct. 2020 Believing a neighbor’s account of discovering a hornet’s nest, for instance, might save you from getting stung repeatedly, and perhaps from dying of anaphylactic shock. — Melissa Healy, Los Angeles Times, "Why do conspiracy theories about pedophilia hold such sway with some conservatives?," 16 Oct. 2020 The Dragon's Breath chili pepper is so hot that it's said consuming one could potentially cause a form of anaphylactic shock, burning and closing the airways. — Mike Masterson, Arkansas Online, "OPINION | MASTERSON ONLINE: A stunning world," 5 Sep. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'anaphylactic shock.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

20 Feb 2021

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“Anaphylactic shock.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anaphylactic%20shock. Accessed 1 Mar. 2021.

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More Definitions for anaphylactic shock

anaphylactic shock

noun

Medical Definition of anaphylactic shock

: an often severe and sometimes fatal systemic reaction in a susceptible individual upon a second exposure to a specific antigen (as wasp venom or penicillin) after previous sensitization that is characterized especially by respiratory symptoms, fainting, itching, and hives

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