Michel Blanc lost his life after anaphylactic shock, which caused angioedema. What is the cause of this serious allergic reaction?
On the night of Thursday October 3, Michel Blancfamous actor from Les Bronzés, lost his life. The circumstances of his death are gradually revealed. The latter would have suffered a heart attack after a significant allergy to a medication, as Gérard Jugnot declared on RTL this Friday, October 4. According to BFMTV, it is a contrast product used during a medical examination which triggered anaphylactic shock, as well as angioedema.
While allergic reactions come in all types and can present varying degrees of severity, ranging from simple itching to difficulty breathing, there are some that are much more impressive and dangerous. Among them, anaphylactic shock, a violent immune response to an allergen that comes into contact with the sick person’s body.
These are most often foods that cause such an allergy such as shellfish, eggs, nuts, cow’s milk, exotic fruits… This can also be linked to insect bites, such as wasps or bees, and therefore also, as would be the case for the actor, to medicines. More rarely, latex can also be the cause. Certain aggravating factors have already been observed, such as the existence of comorbidities or physical exertion immediately after ingestion of the allergen.
The symptoms of anaphylactic shock are numerous and progressive: the reaction begins quickly after contact with the allergen, manifesting itself as 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 syncope.
Anaphylactic shock can be life-threatening 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 angioedema
Anaphylactic shock may also, but not necessarily, be accompanied by angioedema. This corresponds to swelling of the deeper layers of the skin and mucous membranes, to which is sometimes added redness. It is most often located 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 genitalia. The cause of edema can also be inflammation and symptoms range from loss of voice to difficulty breathing to extreme fatigue.
If it attacks the respiratory tract through the throat, pharynx or larynx, this is where it is most dangerous. It risks, in fact, leading to asphyxiation and in the worst case the death of the patient, as would have been the case for Michel Blanc.