Dr Jan Sinclair - Paediatric Allergist

Anaphylaxis

Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction which can be life threatening.  Triggers of anaphylaxis can include insect stings, drugs and foods.  Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency and urgent medical attention should always be sought.

Common signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis are listed on the ASCIA anaphylaxis plans and these are:

• difficult/noisy breathing
• swelling of tongue
• swelling/tightness in throat
• difficulty talking and/or hoarse voice
• wheeze or persistent cough
• loss of consciousness and/or collapse
• pale and floppy (in young children).

If there is a history of an anaphylactic reaction, management generally involves:

• identifying the trigger - this may be obvious on history, and will often require confirmatory tests
• education on avoidance to try and prevent further episodes
• development of an anaphylaxis action plan, which will most often include the use of an adrenaline autoinjector (EpiPen or AnaPen).

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