There’s such thing as being allergic to cold. It’s a rare intolerance to cold.
This story comes from Gizmodo about a man who almost died while getting out of a hot shower.
In a case report, doctors describe how this man developed a severe allergic reaction to the cold air after getting out of a hot shower. His reaction was so bad, he had to stay in intensive care followed by a trip to the emergency room.
According to the report, published last week in the Journal of Emergency Medicine, the 34-year-old man collapsed soon after taking a hot shower, due to a potentially fatal allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis. His family eventually found him on the floor and called for paramedics. Once there, they gave him oxygen and epinephrine (routinely used to treat the low blood pressure and constricted breathing caused by anaphylaxis), then took him to the emergency room. By the time he arrived at the hospital, he was still sweating heavily and experiencing shortness of breath as well as hives all over his body. He was admitted to the intensive care unit to monitor him for any further anaphylaxis.
Doctors of course, performed allergy tests to narrow down the problem. After rubbing an ice cube on his skin, it was followed with a reaction of red bumps. This confirmed his diagnosis: cold-induced urticaria (hives) and anaphylaxis.
The more you know.
H/T| Gizmodo.com
Photo| iStock
