Colorado man, 34, suffers extremely rare life-threatening allergic reaction to COLD AIR after stepping out of the shower
- A man in Colorado suffered an allergic reaction to the cold after a hot shower
- He was taken to the ER, where he suffered from anaphylactic shock
- Treatment with epinephrine and anti-inflammation medication calmed it
- He was released from the hospital in stable condition, despite the rare reaction
A man in Colorado nearly died after suffering an extremely rare allergic reaction to the cold air after a shower.
The 34-year-old man was found collapsed on the floor after he emerged from a hot shower. It’s not clear exactly when the incident occured.
He was taken to the emergency room as he went into anaphylactic shock, suffering from hives, a shortness of breath, and low blood pressure, according to a report published by The Journal of Emergency Medicine last week.
He previously lived in Micronesia, known for its warm and tropical climate. The adjustment to the cold weather of Colorado likely brought on some of his problems.
A 34-year-old Colorado man went into anaphylactic shock after exiting a hot shower
He suffered from cold urticaria, an allergic reaction to cold temperatures that is very rare
The man was treated with two doses of epinephrine, an epinephrine drip, and medication to help him treat his inflammation.
Doctors were forced to perform a test where they put an ice cube on the man’s skin for five minutes to see if it would cause a reaction – it immediately caused him to break out in hives at the contact area.
The unidentified man was prescribed an epinephrine auto-injector, an antihistamine, and the advice that he should avoid exposure to cold water.
He was discharged from the hospital in stable condition.
Live Science reports instances of cold urticaria, as its sometimes known, are extremely rare.
One study in Europe showed that there was a prevalence of about 0.05 percent in the population.
In addition to cold air, cold food and cold drinks can also bring on the condition, which can either be acquired through genetics or a weakening of the immune system.
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