Noun: anaphylactic shock ,a-nu-fu'lak-tik shók
- A severe and rapid and sometimes fatal hypersensitivity reaction to a substance (especially a vaccine, penicillin, shellfish or insect venom) to which the organism has become sensitized by previous exposure
"The child went into anaphylactic shock after being stung by a bee"
Derived forms: anaphylactic shocks
Type of: anaphylaxis
Encyclopedia: Anaphylactic shock