Anaphylactic shock: what is this serious allergic reaction that took away Michel Blanc ?

Michel Blanc died after an anaphylactic shock, which caused Quincke's edema. What is the cause of this serious allergic reaction? ?

On the night of Thursday October 3, Michel Blanc, the famous actor from Les Bronzés, died. The circumstances of his death are gradually being revealed. The latter is said to have suffered a heart attack after a severe allergy to a drug, as Gérard Jugnot said on RTL this Friday, October 4. According to BFMTV, it was a contrast agent used during a medical examination that triggered anaphylactic shock, as well as Quincke's edema.

While allergic reactions come in all types and can range in severity from simple itching to difficulty breathing, there are some that are much more serious and dangerous. Among them is anaphylactic shock, a violent immune response to an allergen that has come into contact with the sick person's body.

Most often, foods such as shellfish, eggs, nuts, cow's milk, exotic fruits cause such an allergy. It can also be linked to insect stings, such as wasps or bees, and therefore also, as would be the case for the actor, to medications. More rarely, latex can also be the cause. Certain aggravating factors have already been observed such as the existence of comorbidities or even physical exertion just after ingestion of the allergen. 

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The symptoms of anaphylactic shock are numerous and progressive: the reaction begins quickly after contact with the allergen, manifesting itself as skin rashes or swelling of the skin. It continues with breathing difficulties, abdominal pain, palpitations, diarrhea, vomiting, dizziness, etc. The allergic reaction is then followed by a drop in blood pressure which can lead to malaise or fainting.

Anaphylactic shock can be life-threatening for the patient and must be treated urgently, often with adrenaline, antihistamines and corticosteroids. In the most serious cases, anaphylactic shock can lead to cardiac arrest, or even death in 0.3% of cases.

Anaphylactic shock but also Quincke's edema

Anaphylactic shock can also, but not necessarily, be accompanied by Quincke's edema. This corresponds to swelling of the deep layers of the skin and mucous membranes, sometimes accompanied by redness. It is most often localized on the face at the level of the lips or eyes but can also go down to the hands, feet, or even affect the external genitals. The origin of edema can also be inflammation and the symptoms range from loss of voice to difficulty breathing to extreme fatigue.

If it attacks the respiratory tract through the throat, pharynx or the larynx, that is where it is most dangerous. It risks, in fact, causing asphyxiation and in the worst case the death of the patient, as would have been the case for Michel Blanc.